[image: Purpose Driven Connection - Daily Devotional] March 18, 2009
God Smiles When We
Praise<http://links.purposedriven.com/u.d?f4GtvB3I0wyr6kJL=13>
by Rick Warren
In our Devotionals series, Pastor Rick Warren discusses the Bible passages
that inspire him the most. Today's Devotional is based on this
passage: "Through
Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the
fruit of lips that confess his name" (Hebrews 13:15 NIV).
Few things feel better than receiving heartfelt praise and appreciation
from someone else. God loves it too. He smiles when we express our adoration
and gratitude to him.
Noah's life brought pleasure to God because he lived with a heart of praise
and thanksgiving. Noah's first act after surviving the flood was to express
his thanks to God by offering a sacrifice (Genesis 8:20).
We praise God for who he is and we thank God for what he has done (Hebrews
13:15; Psalm 116:17). David said, "I will praise God's name in song and
glorify him with thanksgiving. This will please the LORD" (Psalm 69:30-31
NIV).
An amazing thing happens when we offer praise and thanksgiving to God. When
we give God enjoyment, our own hearts are filled with joy!
My mother loved to cook for me. Even after I married Kay, when we would
visit my parents, Mom prepared incredible home-cooked feasts. One of her
great pleasures in life was watching us kids eat and enjoy what she
prepared. The more we enjoyed eating it, the more enjoyment it gave her.
But we also enjoyed pleasing Mom by expressing our enjoyment of her meal. It
worked both ways. As I would eat the great meal, I would rave about it and
praise my mother. I intended not only to enjoy the food but to please her.
Everyone was happy.
Worship works both ways too. We enjoy what God has done for us, and when we
express that enjoyment to God, it brings him joy—but it also increases our
joy. The book of Psalms says, "The righteous are glad and rejoice in his
presence; they are happy and shout for joy" (Psalm 68:3 TEV).
Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest,
Calif., one of America’s largest and best-known churches. In addition, Rick
is author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life and The
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'Unless you change what you do, you will always have what you've got.'
- Jim Rohn
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