The Heart of Praise

Worship After God’s Own Heart

Author: Jack W. Hayford

In this study of the Psalms, pastor Jack Hayford shows us how the Psalms apply, or rather should and can apply to each of our lives is we truly allow God to work and reign in our lives. In this book “THE HEART OF PRAISE – Worship After God’s Own Heart” Pastor Hayford offers a 30 day study of the Psalms and how they relate to our lives today through praise and worship. Pastor Hayford provides insight into the heart of the Psalmist, and how if we open our hearts and even our lives to truly praise and worship our Lord and Savior just as the Psalmist did, it will truly change our lives.

In today’s mindset “Praise and Worship” refer to nothing more than the music involved in our church services, or is used to describe a style of music. That however is not the true scriptural definition or intent. Pastor Hayford uses this devotional to show us, through scripture, the reality of what God intended for Praise and Worship in the lives of His people. We see through this study that God intends, even expects us to praise Him in and through everything we do with and in our lives. We also see that our worship is not just singing a song on Sunday but it is a total act of surrender of our entire life to the creator of the universe, to allow Him to work through us as He sees fit. And the act of total trust that He and He alone knows what is best for our lives, and trusting that if we follow Him and His will for our lives that He will work all things out for our benefit and the benefit of His Kingdom. Pastor Jack shows us that Praise and Worship are not things that we simply do when our lives are on the mountain top. They are acts that, if our relationship with our Savior is right, should continue even when it seems like the world is crashing in around us. Because only then do we realize that without God in our lives we can truly do nothing and we have nothing.

Pastor Jack shows us through the Psalms that true praise and worship is total surrender of our entire life and being. For us to truly praise our God for what He has done and to honestly worship Him for who He is, we must give Him our heart, our mind, our body, our entire person spiritually, mentally and physically. We must allow God to have control of all of us and trust Him. As natural man that is not easy, but it is what God has intended for us if we allow Him to work through us. As a worship leader, this study has reaffirmed in me the true reason why I do what I do. And confirms what I am leading our music ministry to understand and practice every day of our lives.