“Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue.” (Psalm 66:16-17)
This is going to make me sound a little vain, but it’s true: I really like it when I overhear my wife telling someone else nice things about me. It makes me feel tall—especially if she doesn’t know that I can hear what she’s saying.
Of course I know she likes me most of the time, but when she tells someone else that she likes me or that I’ve done something good it feels even more authentic and meaningful. I feel really valued and respected and appreciated.
I think it’s meaningful to God, too. David, of course, praised God to God, but He also praised God to others. Out loud. He made it part of his natural conversation to mention to everyone all the great things God had done for Him.
You don’t have to sing and clap when you praise God to your friends and family members. You don’t have to close your eyes and sway. You can just say it: “God did this good thing for me; he is a good God.” It matters to God, I think, and it matters to you because you are giving credit to the one who really deserves it.
Think: How often do you mention God to others in a positive way? What good things have you said about him out loud in conversation, lately?
Pray: Ask God to help you to praise him out loud to your friends and family members.
Do: Notice this week when people praise God in normal conversation with each other.