The Beauty of Praise

"Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones; Praise is becoming to the upright." 

Psalm 33:1

To those who have a relationship with the Lord, the praise they offer to Him makes them beautiful. It's like wearing attire that really makes you look great. Like the special dress which always brings compliments to the woman who wears it. Or the suit and tie that makes people admire the man who puts it on. When we're praising God, our countenance shines. Whether we're praising Him silently or in a crowded auditorium with a worship band, praise becomes us. It always does. But I suggest that there is a particular beauty that comes in praising God from a weeping heart. The person who is suffering, or impoverished, or brokenhearted, and can still find it within themselves to praise God, has found the secret to lasting beauty. Praise is easy when things are going well, but to praise God in the midst of hard circumstances is a sacrifice. And sacrificial praise is the most becoming of all.

True Beauty

"Praise the LORD! 

For it is good to sing praises to our God; 

For it is pleasant and praise is becoming." 

Psalm 147:1

It is a privilege to praise God. That Deity would condescend to us and share Himself with us, is reason enough to praise Him. To know that we can have an intimate relationship with the Creator should move us to exalt Him. It is good to sing praises to our God because He is worthy of that honor. And in turn we are honored through the praise we offer to Him. He is pleased with our praise, and we are pleased to give it. Praise lifts our hearts and satisfies our souls. When we are in an attitude of praise, we are radiant. Look at a Christian who is praising God and you will see true beauty.

Unfading Beauty

"Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised."

Proverbs 31:30

Having a bad hair day? Wish your nose was smaller or your chin wasn't so prominent? Do you avoid the bathroom scale, or cringe every time you find a new gray hair or wrinkle? Well, consider this. . . God loves you just the way you are. Our culture glorifies beauty and sets standards that only the rich and famous can attain, but God says the woman who reverences Him is the one who is to be praised. I know several elderly women who are radiant. It's not the creams and oils they use, but their love for the Lord that makes them attractive. That's beauty that will never fade.