Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.
Psalm 47:1
We’ve been on a series talking about the different ways we can praise God, because praise is one of the ways we cultivate his presence in our daily lives. When we think of praise, we often think of singing, but did you know that God’s Word also encourages us to clap our hands in praise?
(See Psalm 98:8 and Isaiah 55:12.)
Why would God want us to clap? Well, have you ever noticed how clapping can invigorate and energize your body? Our hands are filled with tiny nerve endings, and when we clap as we worship God, it seems to wake us up and it helps us to stay in the moment. It’s incredible when science catches up to the Word of God and we discover reasons why God says things are good for us!
Clapping hands is also another way to express gratitude. If you clap when your pastor says something that hits home, not only are you encouraging him or her, but you’re also praising God. You’re expressing your thanks that something from the Word of God resounded in you.
When you’re praising God, don’t be afraid to clap your hands. When God’s Word touches your heart during a service, be the first to applaud. Let that excitement charge through you and you will benefit even more from the message.
Whether you’re singing, shouting, clapping or praising God some other way, get excited! Praise him with your whole heart. God wants
you to praise him so you can dwell in his presence, see more of the miraculous and walk daily in his promises!