Praise Monday Through Saturday Like it is Sunday
How to Be a Sunday-Through-Saturday Christian (Not Just a Sunday One), Inspired by Psalm 9
The Little Sanctifiers
I have three young daughters, and the terrifying thing is that they reflect everything my wife and I do. It’s like living in a mirror that talks back.
I’ve watched them put their dolls in time out, raise their voices like grown-ups, and even had my second-born (the boss) threaten me with a “pop-pop,” all because they’re reenacting what they’ve seen and received. These stories are funny on the surface, but they’re also sobering. If I’m not humble enough to stop and observe their behavior (which is just our behavior), I’ll miss God’s invitation to reflect and grow.
I believe that before children are blessings, they are sanctifiers. God uses them to shape us, to reveal what’s hidden, and to make us more like Him.
And yet, by His grace, I’ve also caught my daughters singing worship songs, whispering, “Thank You, Jesus,” and randomly shouting, “Praise the Lord!” in the middle of their day. Or the boss (my two-year-old) will come over and randomly hug us or compliment us. That tells me something more—what we reflect as parents can also form them.
One of the foundational things I want to teach them is how to have a heart of praise. But that leads to two important questions:
Why should we praise God? And how do we do it, especially when we’re still learning?
Why Should We Praise? (Psalm 9)
Psalm 9 inspired this map.
“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.”
—Psalm 9:1–2
David, the writer of this psalm, wasn’t speaking from comfort. He had been betrayed, hunted, and surrounded by death more than once. And yet he starts here: praise. Not as a reaction to victory, but as a declaration of who God is.
Here’s what Psalm 9 teaches us about why we praise:
Praise shifts our focus from the problem to the Provider. It helps us see beyond what’s going wrong and remember who still reigns.
Praise builds trust. David says in verse 10, “Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.” The more you praise, the more you trust—and the more your trust grows.
Praise silences fear and accusation. When we praise, we declare truth louder than our thoughts and stronger than the enemy’s lies. And in the end, this praise will rewire our brain to create a soundtrack of thoughts that displays powerful worship in thoughts and deeds, no matter what season you go through.
Praise is spiritual formation. It rewires your soul. It transforms grumbling into gratitude, worry into worship, and self-focus into God-focus. I am not anti-affirmation, but doing them without God puts you in danger of becoming without God, which can lead to pride, self-centeredness, and ultimately isolation and burnout.
Praise invites breakthrough. As in 2 Chronicles 20, sometimes the chains break after the praise begins.
In short, praise isn’t just something we give to God. It’s something God uses to give more of Himself to us.
How Do We Praise God?
For new believers—or little children—praise might seem vague. Or if you want to go deep, you may need to put this in your toolbox. It’s straightforward. Here’s how we start:
1. Speak His Character
Say something true about who God is:
“You are faithful. You are my strength. You are near.”
2. Thank Him for What He’s Done
Gratitude is praise. Start small:
“Thank You for today. Thank You for forgiving me. Thank You for my family.”
3. Sing or Say It Out Loud
Even if you’re whispering or humming, singing shifts the atmosphere. Play worship music and let your voice be heard in your home. Talk about turning the lights on in your home (the right kind of Light).
4. Use Scripture as Praise
Open a Psalm and pray it back to God. Make it personal:
“Lord, You are my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
5. Praise Before the Breakthrough
David didn’t wait until the battle was over. Praise is most powerful when it’s an act of faith, not just a celebration of results. There are some pretty big battles I am facing today. I am so glad I woke up with you all and spent time with God so we could praise together! I have been good at all the other things, but what a great reminder for me this morning to praise in advance!
What This Means for Me as a Father
If I want my daughters to grow up with hearts anchored in worship, then I must become a man of praise—not just when it’s easy, but when it’s quiet, hard, or unseen. Because they’re watching. And more than that, God is using them to sanctify me.
Praise will shape them. And it’s already shaping me.
Never Finished Challenge: Praise Monday Through Saturday Like it is Sunday
You may not be a father or mother, but you are being watched every day! What you do in private will show up in public.
This week, take three minutes each morning and speak out loud:
One thing you’re thankful for
One truth about who God is
One phrase of praise, even if it’s simple (“Praise You, Lord!”)
Model it. Record it. Live it. And watch how it reshapes your heart—and theirs.
Do you want a heart of praise? In short, praise like little kids. They do it because they spend time with their mom and dad daily. Likewise, spend time every day with your heavenly Father. Ask Him how to do that, and He will give you a heart of Praise!
What does today say about God?
God could have created robots—perfectly obedient, always optimistic.
He could have given us comfort, endless ease, and billions of dollars.
But instead, He gave us something worth far more:
He gave us Himself.
And by showing up daily in His presence, especially through praise.
We don’t just survive this life.
We are transformed from the inside out.
Not by striving. Not by pretending.
But by beholding.
What a Father,
What a Friend,
What a King.
Thank You, Jesus.