Thanksgiving, Praise, and Worship . . .
. . . and why we need all three
As followers of Jesus Christ, we want to stay connected to our Lord. We want to foster and deepen our relationship with Him. And we want to focus our whole lives on Him and His Kingdom. We want to fulfill the first and greatest commandment.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.”
Mark 12:30
We relate to the Lord in many ways, including thanksgiving, praise, and worship. All three of these engagements with our God build and nourish our love from Him. Each is different, yet connected. And each is necessary.
But how are thanksgiving, praise, and worship different? And why is it good and meaningful for us to practice all three of these activities with our Lord?
Here is how I like to think about the differences so that I can understand them better:
Thanksgiving – imagine that someone, such as a friend or co-worker, has done something very nice and helpful for you. You are grateful for their kindness and for their consideration. You make a special point of going to that person and thanking them specifically for their help and kindness.
The same is when we give thanks to the Lord for the specific things He has done in our lives. Perhaps you’ve had a tough time financial issues and you’ve prayed about it and asked the Lord for help. He blessed you with an unexpected gift or circumstance and relieved the pressure and stress. You would thank Him specifically for that blessing. This is thanksgiving. Giving thanks for the specific ways the Lord intervenes with our lives so we can experience the peace and joy He promises to us.
Thanksgiving can be practiced in many ways. Counting your blessings is thanksgiving. Or perhaps you keep a gratitude journal. Our lives our enriched as we recognize the blessings of God by giving Him thanks through the act of thanksgiving.
Praise – now imagine that same person who helped you. Instead of focusing on the specific way you’ve been blessed, think about this person’s qualities and characteristics. You now go to that person and honor them by recounting what you appreciate about who they are and how they live their lives. “You are so kind. You are so giving. You are so wise.” These are all about the other person and how you are touched by their goodness. This is praise. You are praising the person for who they are.
We praise the Lord for His mercy and grace. We acknowledge Him for His loving kindness. For His wisdom that He shares to freely with us. We praise Him for His specific attributes and it’s all about Him.
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!”
Romans 15:11
Praise can be practiced in many ways. Songs of praise are a common way to express our hearts to the Lord as we acknowledge His greatness. David danced in thanksgiving for all the Lord had done for His people. And praise can be quite expressions of acknowledgment as we take in the beauty of His creation. Think about ways you can praise the Lord and enter into this sacred experience with Him.
Worship – now we move into a totally different realm. Worship is giving total and complete adoration and is reserved for our God. We worship the Lord by recognizing His uniqueness as the great I AM. He alone is our Creator. He alone is our Savior. He alone is our Father. He alone is our God.
We worship God by submitting ourselves to Him. We worship Him from our spirit to His Spirit. Our worship is a deep and boundless love because of who He is.
We don’t worship people. We don’t worship things. We worship God. And our worship has nothing to do with the blessings for which we are thankful. And our worship has nothing to do with the praise we have for His attributes. Worship is total abandonment from anything about us and it’s all about pouring everything we are to everything He is.
Worship is often expressed in music, dancing, and shouts to the Lord. Worship can also be expressed through our actions of submission and obedience. And again, quiet worship from our heart to His is precious to God when it is sincere and filled with love and reverence.
As we enter into thanksgiving, praise, and worship, we join our hearts to the heart of God. Our relationship with Him is strengthened as we turn more of our adoration and acknowledgement to Him. We point our thoughts and emotions to Him and His goodness.
Thank you so very much Susan for God’ powerful words of life. Your articles are so right on time and they always are filled with words of encouragement that helps keep me focused, strengthened, and desiring to be more closer to Our God. Thank you that I am able to keep the articles to read over and over again. God Bless you with overflowing properous productivity in every area of your life. To God be all the Glory. Amen!!!
Praise God, thank you so much.
Thank you so very much.
Thank you for the clear distinction and explanation, may God bless you..your blogs always help me to have perspective and keep on track with the purpose that God has for my life.
Praise and worship is my daily bread, thanks Susan. Give God all the Glory.
Thank you Susan for this wonderful clearifaction.
Let us continue to praise and worship with an attitude of gratitude daily,
Cynthia
Thank you Susan. To God be all the praise and glory forever and ever Amen.
May God continue to enrich and bless you for blessing us in Jesus’ name Amen.
Wow this is great. Knowing the differences of thanksgiving, praise and worship help me as I spend time with God in the mornings and thru out the day.
Being specific of these meanings really does help.
Thank you Susan
Thanks for sharing God’s truth of thanksgiving, praise and worship.
Amen this is powerful
Thank you for this spiritual food
Amen ❤️🙏🏻. Thank you 🙏🏻
May God continue to bless and inspire you as you encourage us in getting closer to the lord.
God bless you Susan! Thank you very much for the revelation.
Thanks Susan for educating us.
We keep praising the Lord our Most High, our redeemer.
You stay blessed and don’t stop bringing souls closer to God.
Thank you for this spiritual food!
This is Awsome Susan.
I give God all the Glory for his faithfulness in my life and will forever praise and worship his Holy Name.
Thank you Susan so much for this commentary. What a wonderful blessing to read the things that God has put on your heart . I give God the Glory, Praise and Honour. He is Lord of all there is none like Him. My heart cries out to Him and I adore Him.
Thanks Susan. Thank you God, thank you Father. We worship you, we glorify your holy name. We praise you , we give you all honour and glory. O Lord, you are worthy to be praised.
Susan
As ever, you simply and clarify and make it easy for us to follow. Thanks be to God for you and your work.
Lilian
This was food for my soul. I was blessed with those words.
Thank you Lord for this revelation,it can only be God using you Susan to elaborate this to us.thank you women of the most high God
THANK YOU JESUS, I HONOUR U, GLORIFY U MY LORD.AMEN
I thank you Susan, I love you Lord, I worship you I give you all the praise and glory, I need you, help me father Jesus I need you every hour, God bless you always
Thank you so much . This has been very helpful.
God bless you
Indra
THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU LORD FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE AND GIVING ME AND I’ LL WORSHIP YOU ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE.
Thanks for sharing it’s a blessing to me because I need it at this time.
Thanks for this wonderful revelation
How awesome is this.Amen my spirit and my soul cries, Amen.
Just remember the LORD wants us to sing praises to HIM and HE doesn’t care how off key we are. Sing to the glory of God.
Thank you for that thoughtful explanation of thanksgiving, praise, and worship. It has blessed me. God bless and keep you in all you do.