"I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever."
Psalm 145:1-2 (NIV)
Many of us are waiting to feel something before we pray. We believe praise needs a good mood. If the heart feels flat, we decide we have nothing to bring. So we stay quiet. A quiet morning becomes a quiet month, and we start to wonder what is wrong with our faith.
Psalm 145 does not begin with a feeling. It begins with a decision. David says "I will" twice in the first two verses. He does not say "when I feel joyful." He does not say "once things settle down." He chooses to praise, and he chooses it every day.
Praise in this psalm is a direction, not the weather. Weather happens to us. We cannot make it rain or make it stop. David treats praise differently. He chooses where to face. The heart includes the will, so choosing is part of praying. A flat day is not a disqualified day. You can come with nothing in your chest but a decision.
Notice who David decides to look at. He does not look at his mood. He looks at "my God the King." The word "my" makes Him personal. The word "King" makes Him worthy of honor. Moods rise and fall. The King does not. David goes on to say that no one can reach the bottom of God's greatness. So when your feelings are not worth looking at, God still is.
This is not an invitation to fake joy. Scripture has room for tears and for hard questions. Choosing to praise does not mean pretending you feel fine. It is smaller and more honest than that. It says, "I will look at You today, even though I do not feel much." I cannot promise that the feeling will follow. Sometimes it does. Sometimes the day simply gets finished with God in view. Both are faithful.
Godseekers, you do not have to wait until you are ready. God is worthy of praise before you feel anything. His worth does not rise and fall with your mood. Turn toward Him today and say, "I will."
Prayer
Lord, I confess that I have waited to feel something before I came to You. On some days my heart has felt flat, and I have gone quiet. You are my God and my King, and You are worthy whether I feel it or not. Today I choose to look up to You. Help me turn toward You again tomorrow. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Personal Reflection
- What have you quietly concluded about your faith on the days you feel nothing when you pray?
- Where did you learn that prayer only counts when it comes with emotion, and how is that belief still deciding when you talk to God?
Step of Faith
Choose one time each day this week. At that time, say aloud, "I will praise You, my God and King." Then name one thing about Him that is true, whatever you feel.
