Why is it important to praise God "with my mouth" in challenging times? Key verse: Psalm 71:8 “My mouth is filled with Your praise and with Your splendor all day long.” Setting the Scene David is aging, surrounded by enemies, feeling the frailty of life—and yet his mouth is bursting with praise. The Spirit shows that spoken worship is not a luxury for easy days but a lifeline in hard ones. What “praise with my mouth” Actually Means • Speaking or singing God’s attributes out loud • Declaring His works and promises audibly—alone or with others • Choosing words that exalt Him rather than magnify the problem (Psalm 34:1) Why Verbal Praise Matters When Life Hurts • It fixes my focus on God’s unchanging character instead of fluctuating circumstances (Hebrews 13:8). • Spoken truth feeds my own soul; hearing my voice line up with Scripture builds faith (Romans 10:17). • My words become a public testimony that can lift others who are watching (Psalm 34:2–3). • Praise invites God’s tangible presence; He “inhabits” it (Psalm 22:3). • It silences the enemy’s accusations: “From the mouths of children… You have ordained praise… to silence the foe” (Psalm 8:2). • Life and death are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21); choosing praise releases life. • God promises deliverance when praise precedes victory (2 Chronicles 20:21–22; Acts 16:25–26). • Thanksgiving offered “continually” is the sacrifice God seeks (Hebrews 13:15); obedience in hardship brings reward (Psalm 50:23). • Verbal praise reminds me that my story ends in resurrection, not defeat (Psalm 71:20–24). Practical Ways to Fill My Mouth with Praise Today 1. Read a psalm aloud each morning—personalize the “I” and “You.” 2. Turn worries into worship on the spot: for every anxious thought, state one attribute of God aloud. 3. Keep a running list of answered prayer; recount it at dinner or during a commute. 4. Sing along with Scripture-saturated music, even softly, when tears come. 5. Text or call a believer and share one fresh reason you’re grateful to God. 6. Memorize short praise verses (Psalm 63:3–4; Psalm 103:1) and speak them when stress spikes. Promises God Attaches to Spoken Praise • Strength to rejoice again: “The joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). • Peace that overrules fear: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts… be thankful” (Colossians 3:15). • Divine guidance: “Whoever offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me, and I will show him the salvation of God” (Psalm 50:23). • A legacy that points future generations to trust the Lord (Psalm 71:18). Takeaway Challenging times squeeze the heart, but they need not seal the lips. When the mouth overflows with praise, faith rises, enemies scatter, and God’s glory shines brightest against the backdrop of hardship. |
    |