Let Our Praise
“Let our praise resound until it fills every corner of our being.”
Luke 2:13-14 (ESV)
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"
On that first Christmas night, heaven couldn't contain its joy. What began as one angel announcing good news to frightened shepherds suddenly erupted into a cosmic chorus that filled the night sky. This wasn't a carefully planned performance but an overwhelming explosion of praise that had to be expressed. The glory of God had taken on flesh, and creation itself couldn't keep silent. When we speak of praise filling every corner of our being, we're talking about this kind of all-encompassing worship. Praise starts in our hearts but refuses to stay contained there. Like sound waves that travel until they encounter resistance, authentic praise penetrates every aspect of our lives—our thoughts, actions, relationships, work, rest, dreams, and struggles.
During Advent, we're invited to let our praise expand beyond the boundaries we often place around it. Too frequently, we compartmentalize our worship, treating it like a scheduled activity rather than a pervasive reality. We praise God on Sunday mornings but struggle to maintain that same spirit of worship during Monday's meetings. We sing about God's greatness in church but forget to acknowledge it daily. Consider how praise filled every corner of the nativity story. Mary's song of praise emerged from her encounter with God's plan. The shepherds couldn't help but spread the word about what they had seen and heard. The wise men traveled great distances, compelled by their desire to worship. Each participant in the Christmas story found a unique way to let their praise resound.
This expansive praise transforms not just our spiritual lives but every dimension of our existence. When praise fills our minds, it changes our thoughts about challenges and opportunities. When it penetrates our emotions, it affects how we respond to both joy and sorrow. When it pervades our relationships, it influences how we treat others, even those who are difficult to love. Think of praise like light filling a room. It doesn't just illuminate the center but reaches into every corner, revealing what was hidden in shadow. Similarly, when we allow our praise to resound fully, it illuminates aspects of our lives we might not have considered part of our spiritual journey. Our work becomes an avenue for worship. Our relationships become opportunities for expressing God's love. Even our struggles become contexts for demonstrating trust in God's faithfulness.
This Advent season challenges us to remove the barriers that contain our praise. What would it look like if our worship wasn't just something we did but became the atmosphere we lived in? How might our daily routines change if they were infused with a spirit of praise? What if our response to blessings and difficulties was shaped by an awareness of God's presence worthy of our worship? As we prepare to celebrate Christ's birth, let our praise expand beyond comfortable boundaries. Let it echo in our homes through words of encouragement and acts of service. Let it resound in our workplaces through excellence and integrity. Let it reverberate in our communities through generosity and compassion.
Take a moment to reread today’s Scripture passage and then spend some time reflecting on the following questions:
Luke 2:13-14 (ESV)
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"
What areas of your life still feel disconnected from your worship? What would change if you viewed every aspect of your life as an opportunity for praise?