Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high . . . ?

— Psalm 113:5

When I pray with people, I ­often like to give them words of encouragement in the form of a challenge. For example, I’ll invite them to begin each morning with praise as the first activity of the day. Like the psalmist, they can shout a hallelujah to recognize who God is.

This psalm was often sung just before people took up the first cup of wine at the Passover meal. They were remembering the goodness and faithfulness of God to the people of Israel.

Saying “Praise the Lord” (Hebrew: “Hallelujah”) is also the perfect way for us to start the day, remembering the goodness and faithfulness of God. It helps to set the tone for the day, and it puts our atti­tude in the right place. It also reminds us that God is bigger than our circumstances and that no one else is like the Lord our God.

We can also sing God’s praises before going to sleep at the end of the day. When we praise someone, it means we know something significant about that person and what they have done. The more we experience the fullness of God in our lives, the easier our praise of God will be.

As we practice, morning and evening, to praise God’s name, we are reminded that we have a heavenly Father and a friend who is always with us and provides everything we need.

Dear God, from the rising of the sun to its setting, may your name be praised. Help us to experience your love daily, and as we give you thanks, may we shout “Hallelujah!” Amen.