The energizing influence of praising God

Gratitude can be such a gentle, humble thing. And as we practice gratitude, it can grow into a protecting, guiding, and multiplying influence. Giving gratitude is an act that requires slowing down, silencing the mental chatter, and paying attention. Although gratitude may start with being grateful for things and circumstances, as our gratitude deepens and broadens, it becomes praise to God as the ultimate source of good.

God is good. All good. The source of all life, all truth, and love. In Christian Science, we follow Christ Jesus’ teachings about God and praise and acknowledge God as all-inclusive, all-loving, “with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17).

God gives us a sense of peace and belonging, protection and refuge, and hope, healing, and joy – an underlying spiritual reality and eternal home base. As we explore the depths of what infinite God has given, we find that good naturally multiplies.

• Like a rock, praise becomes the foundation for our health and our peace. When we praise our Father-Mother God for Her goodness, we are witnesses to God, and our feet are planted firmly in our acknowledgment of God. “The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted” (Psalms 18:46).

• Praise opens our thinking to recognize more of God as the one creator, and each of us as God’s creation. And because the nature of the creator is to create, creation is always unfolding, with God, divine Mind, as the multiplier, giving us boundless opportunities, resources, and ideas. “I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me” (Psalms 13:6).

• Like a shield, praise purifies and protects our thoughts and actions. Thoughts of God – Truth, Life, and Love – wash us clean. Thoughts of God are like light that chases away all darkness. Nothing evil can enter the thought that is overflowing with praise for God. We “should shew forth the praises of him who hath called [us] out of darkness into his marvellous light” (I Peter 2:9).

• Praise for God breaks through the mesmerism of fear and lack and reveals that God is all-powerful divine Love and ever-active divine Truth. Justice and mercy are inevitable. We need never despair. “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!” (Psalms 42:5, 6, New Living Translation).

• Praise heals. A consciousness of God’s goodness transforms our lives from limitation to abundance; from sickness to health. “I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God” (Psalms 42:11).

I’ll never forget how praise for God proved these statements to be true in my life. When our children were young, my husband and I were notified of an upcoming job layoff. We resolved to praise God every night and only let gratitude fill our thoughts. This helped us see that for all the good our family had experienced, there was a consistent spiritual law at work that had guided us through every step, and it would guide us through our next steps.

This put a halt to any fear, reactive outlining, or anxiety. Continued, confident praise for God led us to understand that nothing could stop God’s law of progress for our family or for anyone’s family. And as we were listening, grateful for the full provision of the good we had, we trusted that God’s perfect care would continue.

Our prayer of praise led to a readiness and a calm trust to do things a little out of the ordinary. When the layoff came, we were quickly able to move across the country to a new home, and we found innovative opportunities for each of us to grow in surprising ways that enriched all our lives. But most importantly, we were profoundly moved to know God’s love and care even more. And through that bright communion with Love, I was inspired to start my full-time healing practice of Christian Science.

The “Manual of The Mother Church” by Mary Baker Eddy, who discovered Christian Science, says, “Gratitude and love should abide in every heart each day of all the years” (p. 60). Daily gratitude shifts human consciousness from being self-centered to God-centered, opening our eyes to infinite possibilities that God continually pours out to us. Our gratitude and praise for God bring a richness and confidence we all can feel every day.