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What Does It Mean to Exalt God?

by Tonja Taylor
12/13/2021 / Christian Living

The word "exalt" is one we don't hear often, even in the church. But it is an excllent word to use to describe part of what we do to bring glory to our LORD, Jesus Christ.

It is our privilege to exalt King Jesus! When we praise and worship Him in spirit and truth (sincerely, from our hearts, being thankful for all He's done and will do), we exalt Him.

We were created and sent to earth at this time in history to bring Him glory and praise and honor; to worship Him, to exalt Him!

So here is what "exalt" means: (from Webster's dictionary) "To elevate in rank, honor, power, character, quality, etc. 2. to praise; extol. 3. to stimulate. 4. to intensify.

A thesaurus states that it means to "glorify, dignify, ennoble, enthrone, honor, adore, worship, crown, bless, pay tribute to, reverence, appreciate, value, esteem, respect, admire, elevate, raise up, sing the praises of, magnify, intensify, increase, enlarge.

I'm sure there are more meanings, but I'll stop there.

God created us to praise and worship Him (Psalm 100, Philippians 2:13, Revelation 4:1)!

Praise and worship are so important to the Most High God that He mentions "praise" in the Bible over 300 times, and "worship" over 100 times! He so desires that we praise and worship Him; He loves and lives in our praise (Psalm 22:3).

Our great joy and delight and thanksgiving to our Father God is expressed in powerful ways to Him when we praise and worship.

One text states, "Praising God for who He is is called adoration; praising Him for what He does is known as thanksgiving."

There are many forms of praise. Carman (now in Heaven praising and worshiping the LORD!) has a song called "7 Ways to Praise," and he includes shouting praise to the LORD; raising ones hands in worship; playing an instrument; dancing to the LORD; singing; bowing; clapping and rejoicing exuberantly, and more."

As King David said, “My praise shall be continually of You . . . And [I] will praise You yet more and more.” (Ps. 71:6, 14).

One international minister stated in a sermon I heard that praise is when we talk about ourselves loving God--no matter if the music is fast or slow; and worship is when we focus on God's greatness, and recount His many wonderful attributes to Him.

For example the contemporary song, "I'm Desperate For You," is praise, but the contemporary "Adonai," and the classic "How Great Thou Art" are worship.

Truly, we live in day when there is almost no excuse--worldwide--for one to not be able to access music and videos with which they can worship the LORD! Halleujah!

According to one expository on the Bible, "The English word 'worship' comes from the Old English word “worthship,” a word that denotes the worthiness of the one receiving the special honor or devotion."

As my husband has remarked more than once, we are thankful to live in a day when we can worship the LORD without having to sacrifice animals! Jesus is and was the Lamb of God, the absolute, eternal, and perfect Sacrifice for us, and His blood shed on the cross truly cleansed all people forever of their sins, destroyed the curse, and brought the Blessing--for all of us who will believe and receive it (John 3:15-17; Romans 5:8; Galatians 3:13-14)! Hallelujah!

It has been stated that everyone is worshiping something. I believe that, for we are created to worship God. If one doesn't know Him, or doesn't believe Him, then one is still worshiping--meaning, devoted to, and even exalting--something or someone else. This is what "idolatry" means.

The Father is seeking people who worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24)--reality, with our hearts, and by loving and living His commands, which are for our good, and not "grievous": not heavy nor burdensome (I John 5:3).

He is good, all the time. He is Love (I John 4:8)! He is the faithful God, Who keeps Covenant (the blood-bought oath) with His people forever (Isaiah 54:10; Romans 8)! Hallelujah!

A very special part of our destiny is to exalt the LORD God, Who is forever worthy of our praise and worship! Even the holy angels, who fly around the LORD in Heaven for eternity, are in awe of Him, as they cry, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts! The whole earth is full of His glory!" (Isaiah 6:3) and "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come (Revelation 4:8)."

Hallelujah! Did you feel excitement and love for the LORD as you read those two verses? Just by reading the Word, the Spirit of God can stir within you, and help you begin to worship.

So that's one way to worship--read His Word out loud, especially Scriptures that adore the LORD!

He makes it so easy for us to praise and worship Him!

We can also just thank Him out loud during the day, and say, "LORD, I worship You. I praise You. I thank You." We can be general, or even better, specific, and thank Him in detail for things He's done, is going to do, or both!

He is our loving Daddy (when we have received Christ Jesus as our Savior and LORD!), and He loves to be loved on, just like any good daddy. However, He is also the LORD of Heaven and earth!

(Note: His will is NOT being totally done on the earth, or there would be no evil! He has given the earth to the children of men--us. His will was the Garden of Eden--The Blessed Life--from the beginning (Genesis 1). Sin came in and messed it up. But when we praise and worship the LORD, we start experiencing His Presence, which is Heaven on earth! It is a taste of the superb things to come, for when we go to Heaven (after being born again by true faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God; that He died on the cross as a man and then rose again three days later, and by His shed blood, has forgiven and cleansed us from our sins to make us acceptable to God the Father, Who is holy!)

When we truly praise and worship the LORD, the LORD draws near, and His Spirit changes us! We become more free, more healed, more blessed, more understanding of His great faithful love for us!

When we worship, God’s Presence ushers us into His throne room—into the Holy of Holies, so that we might run to our Heavenly Daddy and be as close to Him as possible! That is why King Jesus died—so we might have relationship with our Father and worship Him in all His glory, and become more like Him!

So, how do you get started in true worship of the LORD our God? Simple; Thank Him.

4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name! 5 For the Lord is good; His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, His faithfulness and truth endure to all generations.--Psalm 100:4-5, AMPC

Just start thanking Him out loud--about little things, big things, whatever you can think of. Write them down. Keep a journal, and then reread it on special occasions; even share with other family members or friends. You will be amazed at what the LORD your Daddy God, and His Son Jesus your Savior, has done--and that's just a tiny amount of His goodness to you every day!

Remember, as He showed me years ago, that He keeps you and gives you every breath, even as you sleep! It is His faithfulness--the Word of His power--that supports this planet, and all in it, including you!

Go for it. Not only will the LORD be glorified when you praise and worship Him, but you will be changed for good. You will become "addicted" to the Presence of God, when you do worship right. Another benefit, according to my pastor, is exuberant worship can be a mini-workout of your body.

True worship will become more and more of a blessing to you, and your spirit, soul, body, relationships, and even finances can benefit. You can't go wrong in true praise and worship.

But you don't have to take my word for it. Try it and see for yourself! You will not be disappointed!

Through books, courses, presentations, service, prayer, worship, and more, Tonja and her husband live to exalt God. Her series for girls, P.O.W.E.R. GIRL ADVENTURES, is now out (books I-V), along with LEGACY; YOUR HOLY HEALTH: VISIONS OF THE KING, and more. See the "River Rain Creative" YT channel.

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

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