What Does Great Praise Look Like?

Psalm 145

We’ve all heard the phrase: Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised. But in honest moments—the kind I’d rather hide from the Lord—His greatness doesn’t always stir me. Surrounded by His grace, I get used to it. I take it for granted. That’s exactly why I need this psalm.

Psalm 145 brings me back to the reasons why God deserves my praise. Reasons I see every day—yet forget how beautiful they truly are.

This song highlights God’s mighty acts (v.4). The psalmists often pointed to the Exodus. I can point to the cross, the incarnation, His miracles. And I can’t ignore what He’s done in my own life—from the miracle of salvation to the everyday movement of His Spirit. If I’ll slow down, I too can speak of the might of His awesome deeds (v.6).

This psalm also reminds me of His mercy. His love shows up in His patience—He stays slow to anger (v.8). I once heard the difference between grace and mercy: grace is God giving me what I don’t deserve while mercy is God not giving me what I do deserve. Which do I love more? I don’t know. But I know I need both. I’ve seen Him hold back His wrath in the face of my folly, my grumbling, my pride, and so much more. The Lord is gracious—and merciful—to me.

This song stirs me to sing of His Kingdom—His everlasting Kingdom (v.13). What makes it so great? He upholds the falling (v.14), lifts up the bowed down (v.14), satisfies our desires (v.15), draws near to those who call on Him (v.18), preserves those who love Him (v.20), and surrounds us with kindness (v.17). Oh, the joy of living under a King who rules all things (v.13) and rules me with kindness (v.20)!

Thank You, Lord—and thank you, David—for opening my eyes again to how great You are.

But here’s the question that stops me: if the Lord is great—and He is—then what does great praise look like?

Sometimes I think great praise means loud singing or big emotion in worship. Volume and tears. But Psalm 145 offers something deeper. Great praise happens daily (v.2). It passes on His greatness to the next generation (v.4). It stops to meditate on His wonders (v.5), speaks of His goodness (v.6), sings aloud (v.7), declares His works to children (v.12), calls on Him in truth (v.18), and speaks His praise (v.21).

So I ask: Is my praise great? Do I daily meditate on His works? Tell others? Pass on His greatness? Cry out in prayer? Sing in private and in public?

Father, forgive me for being bored by Your greatness. Forgive my weak praise. Teach me who You are—and teach me how to praise You greatly.