Commending Meaningful Contribution

praise - Commending Meaningful Contribution

Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises? Exodus 15:11

The psalmist’s rhetorical question is quite fitting: None is like You, O God! Praise has no real definition apart from the wonder of our Creator. He gives the word its meaning and in so doing defines our purpose. We have the privilege to bring forth praise.

To bring forth praise in a marriage means I must leave behind my negative words, thoughts, or critical attitudes. To praise a spouse means I have to forfeit my role as complainer, instructor, or nag. To praise my spouse means I must look for opportunities to find value, merit, and commendation. I express gratitude for my spouse and share favorable words that bring him or her joy.

Teresa and I have come to find that if we have difficulty sharing praise with each other, that often means we need to give more attention to our devotional time with the Lord. We’ve noticed that we can’t leave the presence of the Lord with a critical spirit or a negative attitude. Receiving His care for our irritations and reflecting on God’s provision for our needs prompts our gratitude for Him. And it seems that the more “vertical” praise we express, the more easily our “horizontal” praise begins to flow. Turning aside to be with Him and experiencing the wonder of a praise-filled heart seems to prepare us for deepened closeness with one another.

Teresa and I have also discovered that as we increase our expressions of praise for one another, God is doubly blessed. He hears our gratitude and receives the glory for His generous provision. But the Lord is also blessed by the unique and miraculous testimony of an intimate marriage. Only God could have brought us from years of just “putting up with each other” to the intimacy of praise for one another!

What words of praise do you have for God? What words of praise do you have for your spouse?