Every year, before the calendar flips and the noise of a new season rushes in, I quiet myself before the Lord. I don’t ask for goals or resolutions first. I ask for a word – a word to anchor my heart, guide my posture, and shape how I walk with Him through whatever the year holds.
This year, after prayer, stillness, and surrender, the Lord gently but clearly gave me one word:
Praise.
Not striving.
Not fixing.
Not controlling.
Praise.
Along with that word, He led me straight to Psalm 33:20–23 (NIV):
“We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.
In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name.
May Your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in You.”
And honestly… my spirit exhaled.
Praise Is a Posture, Not a Performance
When we think of praise, we often think of songs, raised hands, or joyful moments when prayers are answered. But the kind of praise God impressed on my heart this year runs deeper than circumstances.
This is praise while waiting.
Praise while trusting.
Praise while the outcome is still unknown.
Psalm 33 doesn’t say “We praise after everything works out.”
It says “We wait in hope.”
Praise, for me, is becoming a posture of trust – choosing to magnify God not because everything feels good, but because He is good.
Praise Shifts the Focus
Waiting can feel uncomfortable. Silence can feel heavy. Uncertainty can stir fear if we let it. But praise does something powerful – it lifts our eyes.
“He is our help and our shield.”
That means I don’t have to be my own protector.
I don’t have to carry everything.
I don’t have to understand every step.
Praise reminds my heart who God is before I see what He does.
Praise Is Trust in Action
Verse 21 says, “In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name.”
That line wrecked me in the best way.
Praise is not denial.
It’s not pretending things don’t hurt.
It’s declaring trust anyway.
This year, I feel the Lord inviting me to praise Him not only for what He has done – but for who He is, even in the waiting. To praise Him with my words, my attitude, my obedience, and my surrender.
A Prayer for the Year Ahead
Lord,
Teach me to praise You in every season.
When I’m joyful – let praise overflow.
When I’m waiting – let praise anchor me.
When I don’t understand – let praise remind me to trust.
May Your unfailing love be with me,
as I place my hope fully in You.
Amen.
Walking Forward with Praise
As I step into this year, I’m not chasing perfection. I’m choosing praise – daily, intentionally, sometimes quietly, sometimes boldly.
Because praise shifts the atmosphere.
Praise strengthens faith.
Praise keeps my heart aligned with heaven.
And if this word resonates with you too, maybe it’s an invitation – not just for me, but for us – to praise Him right where we are.
Even here.
Even now.
⸻
Pause & Reflect
Take a moment to sit with these questions and invite the Holy Spirit to gently speak to your heart:
- When you hear the word praise, what emotions or experiences come to mind for you?
- In what areas of your life are you currently waiting in hope?
- What does praise look like for you when the outcome is still uncertain?
- Are there places where fear, striving, or control have replaced trust?
- How might choosing praise as a daily posture shift your perspective this year?
- What would it look like to trust God as your help and shield – practically and emotionally?
- How have you seen God’s unfailing love sustain you in past seasons of waiting?
Journaling Prompt
Set aside a quiet moment, grab your journal, and write freely without overthinking:
Lord, what does praise look like for me in this season?
As you write, reflect on:
- What you are believing God for right now
- Where you are waiting, hoping, or unsure
- How you can intentionally practice praise – not just with words, but with trust, obedience, and rest
Close your journaling time with a simple prayer of praise. Let it be honest. Let it be real. Let it rise from exactly where you are.