I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue. Psalm 66:17

Praise is a highly underrated part of prayer. Not only do we give honor to the One who deserves the praise, but it lifts up our spirit.

Recall in 2020 when most everyone was attending church online. As hard as the worship leaders tried, it’s just not the same unless you’re in the same room worshiping with fellow believers. Yes, the music and lyrics were identical, but the online worship lost its “edge.”

But there is also an element of praise in our personal prayer life. Then it’s us and God. No one to hear our goofiness or mistakes or stuttering or awkward pauses. No one cares if you’re out of tune or off key. It’s also a “raw” time where no one can hear us except for God, so we have to open ourselves up. That’s uncomfortable for many of us.

Like anything, however, praise takes “practice.” Nothing in life worth anything is easy, and praise isn’t either.

On a positive note, though, it is a worthwhile endeavor, and there is absolutely no down side to it. Everyone benefits and we draw just a bit closer to God.