Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
8 3 2026
When Worship Changes You – The Language of Trust Part 2 of 2
Last time we discovered that praise is often a sacrifice because it usually comes before our circumstances change. I answered,
why would you praise when life hurts.
Today let’s look at what happens when you do.
The idea of complete dependence on God doesn’t come naturally. Since we first learned to walk, we’ve been encouraged to become independent, make our own decisions, solve our own problems, and take control of our lives. Those are valuable qualities…until we begin believing we’re actually in control. Ouch...
The longer we live, the more we realize we’re not.
When the Holy Spirit opens our eyes, He gently reminds us that the Christian life was never meant to be lived in our own strength. We need His wisdom, His power, His peace, and His direction every single day. That realization doesn’t weaken us…it humbles us. It reminds us how deeply we need Him. And the truth is, there is tremendous strength in that submission.
Psalm 95:2-3 says, “Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms…
For the Lord is a great God.”
I’ve also learned something else over the years.
Praise changes the atmosphere.
When I choose to worship instead of worry, my focus shifts from my problems to God’s greatness. Fear begins losing its grip. Discouragement starts giving way to hope. Because we all know that the enemy thrives on lies, despair, and isolation, but those things cannot flourish where Christ is being honored. Think about that!
Remember King Jehoshaphat. As the people of Judah began to sing and praise the Lord, God set ambushes against their enemies and won the battle for them (2 Chronicles 20:22).
Notice the order….Praise came first….Victory followed. Who does that? Really.
Haven’t you see that even our prayers can become centered on our problems? God already knows our burdens. The sacrifice of praise “reminds our hearts” that He is greater than every one of them. Hebrews 13:15 says,
“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise…the fruit of lips that openly profess His name.”
Praise doesn’t ignore reality. So, what is He trying to tell us?
It declares that God is greater than the reality we currently see it.
Scripture tells us to “enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise” (Psalm 100:4). Psalm 22:3 says He inhabits the praises of His people. In His presence we find what our hearts have been searching for all along. As David wrote, “In Your presence is fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11). We all know those passages too well. So well…we have stopped hearing what He’s saying.
“But God” doesn’t always change our circumstances immediately…. But He always begins changing us.
Every day, every hour of every day, we have a choice. We can focus on the noise of the world, our fears, and the endless “what ifs”… and honestly they can be unnerving and terrifying, or we can fix our eyes on the One who holds the universe together and who also holds us securely in His hands.
Offering the sacrifice of praise is another way of dying to ourselves. Think about that for a moment. It means loosening our grip on what we were never meant to control, (and don’t) and placing it into the hands of the One who never loses control.
Perhaps that’s why praise is such a sacrifice….It requires trust….And trust always requires surrender.
The beautiful truth is this: God isn’t waiting to condemn us. He’s waiting to draw us closer.
One surrendered room of the heart at a time… one locked closet at a time…
He patiently invites us deeper into His presence
Reading His Word,
believing His promises,
and choosing praise… aren’t they ALL part of that same journey?
Maybe today is another opportunity to surrender what you’ve been carrying.
Not because your storm is over.
But because your Savior is still faithful.
Prayer
Father, forgive me for carrying burdens You never intended me to bear alone. Teach me to praise You before I see the answer, to trust You before I understand, and to surrender what I cannot control. Fill my heart with Your peace, Your joy, and Your presence. May my life become a continual sacrifice of praise that points others to the greatness of Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Here is the link to session one if you missed it: https://faith.fearlesslycourageous.com/email/files/1785706141.mp3
“What part of this hit home for you this morning? What are you carrying today that needs prayer? If you’d like, send me a prayer request here. Let’s invite the Holy Spirit in together. (where two are gathered.) You are not walking alone. Just hit reply…
I read every response.”
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZNhVLPvIfA
Hello God Dolly Parton
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