Does Psalm 6:6 describe you? It says, “I am weary with my groaning; All night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears” (NKJV).

Weariness and/or attacked faith not only challenges our faith but can sometimes cause us to wonder what we could even pray. In those times, we should praise. Praise is the antidote for weariness and attacked faith.

Of course, we don’t praise to manipulate God, but the protecting and building of our faith naturally happens when we praise Him. It reminds us of Who God is and is not and what He will and will not do. It makes sure He is number one in our lives, that He sits on the throne of our hearts, that He is our King and Lord. Praise brings truth, and truth increases our faith.

Hebrews 12:3 says, “For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” When I read this recently, I first thought it meant that He endured so we didn’t become weary. Now I believe it means that to keep from being weary and discouraged, we should consider the Lord, and the best ways to consider the Lord are through His Word, through time spent with Him, and through praise.

There are many praises in the book of Psalms. Here are a few:

• “I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness, And will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High” (Psalm 7:17).
• “Praise the LORD! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever” (Psalm 106:1).
• “For His merciful kindness is great toward us, And the truth of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 117:2).
• “The Lord shall reign forever—Your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 146:10).
• “But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel” (Psalm 22:3).
• “The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him” (Psalm 28:7).
• “For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding” (Psalm 47:7).
• “To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; For God is my defense, My God of mercy” (Psalm 59:17).

Moses praised God with these words: “‘Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?’” (Exodus 15: 11).

Before he died, Moses wrote a different and really long song that was to be taught to all the children of Israel. We can use this verse to praise God: “He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He” (Deuteronomy 32:4).

Hannah praised God beautifully after the birth and dedication of her promised son, Samuel: “‘My heart rejoices in the Lord; My horn is exalted in the Lord. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation. No one is holy like the Lord, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God” (1 Samuel 2:1–2).

We have access to many other songs of praise in God’s Word, beautiful praises to our God, who deserves all praise, the best praise.

There is one more great source of reasons to praise I would like to mention: what God has already done for us. Psalm 52:9 say, “I will praise You forever, Because You have done it.” We do not need to be reminded of the miracles we would call big, because they are easily recalled, but for the answers to prayer that we might consider to be smaller, the things God does day-to-day, get out your journal and thank Him for what He has done. “Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!” (Psalm 150:2).

Lifting up the Lord puts Him in His rightful place: above our worry, fears, the enemy, others, lies, wrong possibilities, lesser possibilities.

Around our area, there are billboards urging us to make water our go-to drink, and I urge you to make praise your go-to in most situations:

• Grateful? Praise.
• Burdened? Praise.
• Bored? Praise.
• Lied to by the devil? Praise.
• Just received some bad news? Praise.
• Faith taking a hit? Praise.
• Your thoughts rolling and rolling? Praise.
• Wanting to know the Lord better? Praise.

We do not have to walk as if we have no hope. We do not have to walk tired or stressed about our prodigals, when we have a God Who loves them more than we do, is all-powerful and all-wise, and only makes promises He knows He will keep.

Let’s work on making praise our go-to.

“Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God” (Psalm 50:23). Amen! So be it!