Psalm 150:6 says,”Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” Before we start lifting holy hands and shouting, let’s review a few Hebrew translations for the word praise. One Hebrew word for “praise” is yadah, meaning “praise, give thanks, or confess.” A second word often translated “praise” in the Old Testament is zamar, “sing praise.” A third word translated “praise” is halal (the root of hallelujah), meaning “to praise, honor, or commend.” All three terms contain the idea of giving thanks and honor to one who is worthy of praise.

In Psalm 150 praise is used 13 times in 6 verses. The first verse provides the “where” of praise—everywhere! “Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. The second verse teaches “why” to praise the Lord: “Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.” In verses 3-6 we discover “how” to praise the Lord-with a sound: a variety of instruments, dance, and everything that has breath.

After reading these six verse we are able extract the “Who”, “what”, “where”, and “how” to praise, but “when” is it the best time to praise God?

For some of you, praise is an everyday thing, but for most people praising God doesn’t come easy especially when things aren’t going well.

I want to help those that falsely believe praise is contingent on their circumstances. I want to help encourage those believers that recognizes the “Who”, “what”, “where”, and “how”, but struggle with the “when”.

If this message is speaking to you, I want you to know that the deepest level of worship is praising God in spite of the pain, thanking God during trials, trusting Him when you are tempted to lose hope and choosing to love Him when He seems distant. Praising God is incessant and not contingent on your circumstances.

Remember this: When you are at your lowest-God is your Hope, when you are at your darkest-God is your light, when you are at your weakest-God is your strength, when you are at your saddest-God is your comforter, and when your pain is too much handle, God is your burden-bearer!

Brothers and sisters, it’s our duty and ‘response’(ibility) to praise God. Our praises to Him should never be contingent on our circumstances. We praise God because that’s what we’re created to do in the first place!! Psalm 100:3-4, says,“Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.”

Fortunately, at the end of time, all of God’s people will join in eternal praise of God. “No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship Him” (Revelation 22:3).