Praise (αἴνεσις) is defined in Scripture as the fruit of our lips confessing the name of God. It is the act of expressing approval or admiration.
Therefore, through Him, let us offer up a sacrifice of praise through all to the God, that is, the fruit of our lips confessing His name – Hebrews 13:15
Confession means “to say the same thing,” and name refers to the character of a person. Therefore, we praise God when we verbally agree with Him concerning the manner in which He expresses His character toward us. This can be done in song, prayer, or in general conversation.
The angels gave praise to God after proclaiming His good will toward men, which resulted in the giving of Christ to the world—thereby giving proper credit to God's good will towards men (Luke 2:13). After heeding the message of the angels, the shepherds found Christ and reported all they had seen and heard, expressing a proper opinion of and admiration for God as they returned (Luke 2:20).
In the seventh Psalm, a Benjamite writes of praising God according to His righteousness. Righteousness is an aspect of God’s nature that He expresses through His character, for He always acts in a morally right and justifiable manner. David encourages the Gentiles to praise God for His mercy toward His anointed (Psalm 18:48). As his strength and shield, David trusts in God, singing praises—expressing his admiration for God's character—to Him (Psalm 28:7).
Praise is not limited to music and song (Psalm 33:2); it may also be expressed through words (Psalm 75:1). Praise is the pleasurable contemplation of God’s name and, therefore, the confession of His character.
As priests, an aspect of our religious service to God is the offering of sacrifices. These sacrifices are spiritual in nature, for we worship God in spirit and truth. Praise is one of these spiritual sacrifices. Through praise, we express our regard for God’s grace (Ephesians 1:6), which is based on having a proper opinion of Him (Ephesians 1:12, 14). This attitude—regarding the character of God as impressive and worthy of respect—is reflected not only in our words but also in the way we live (Philippians 1:10). Living out our faith will result in others appreciating God for His character and giving Him praise (1 Peter 1:7).
What aspect of God’s character is impacting our lives today? Is it His goodness, kindness, or love? Or perhaps it is more His long-suffering and faithfulness, as we struggle to live a life that glorifies Him in contrast to fulfilling the desires of the flesh. God’s love seeks the best for us; His joy gives us contentment in any situation; His peace settles our minds; His long-suffering withholds His anger; His kindness makes us feel at ease; His goodness gives us that which is beneficial. And because of His objectivity of mind, He continues to express these attributes to us—even when we refuse to follow His desires for our lives.
Therefore, let us praise God today for who He is—not just with words, but through a life that shows our admiration for Him and expresses a proper opinion of who He is, so that others may also praise Him.