A few years ago one of the teachers at school sent home a brightly colored piece of paper entitled 101 Ways To Praise A Child.  Having seen the list before on my Sister-in–law’s refrigerator I was delighted to have my own copy.  The paper gives suggestions for praising your child; some are phrases you can say and others are ideas like a hug or a kiss.  The list goes something like this:

·         Way to go

·         I’m proud of you

·         You make me happy

·         A hug

·         You work really hard

·         I love you

·         Terrific

·         You’re a joy

·         Super job

·         A kiss

·         Exceptional performance

·         Awesome

·         What a good listener

I think one of my weaknesses in parenting is not giving enough praise and positive encouragement to my children.  I keep the list on my refrigerator as a reminder to me to praise them.  They actually laugh at me when I use one of the “cheesy” phrases like, “You’re A-OK-My Buddy”, but they know I am trying my best to praise them and it makes them happy.

This verse caught my attention:  Psalm 119:164 (NIV) Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws.  That verse made me ask myself how many times a day I praised God. I often count my blessings and say thank you to God for all he has done, but I believe that thankfulness is just one of the many ways to praise God.

 If there are 101 ways to praise a child then there has to be 101 ways to praise God. Now I was on a mission for a second list to hang on my refrigerator.  I searched the Psalms to compile my list which I want to share with you.  Some are phrases you can say and some are actions you can do, but all are taken directly from the Scripture in order to praise God. All quotes are taken from the Revised Standard Version. Now that the list is compiled, all I have to do is move that big stack of filing to be done. It is blocking my printer! J

1.      Blessed be the Lord forever (Ps.89:52)

2.     The Lord on high is mighty (Ps. 93:4)

3.     Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised (Ps. 96:4)

4.     The Lord is gracious and merciful (Ps. 111:4) 

5.     Sing praises (Ps.91:2)

6.     Serve the Lord with gladness (Ps 100:2)

7.     Thou, O Lord, art enthroned forever (Ps. 102:12)

8.     The heavens are the work of thy hands (Ps. 102:25)

9.     Tell of His salvation from day to day (Ps. 96:2)

10.   Thy name endures to all generations (Ps. 102:12)

11.    Rejoice in the Lord (Ps 97:12)

12.   I love the Lord (Ps. 116:1)

13.   Thou art the same, and thy years have no end (Ps. 102:27)

14.   Give thanks to His holy name (Ps. 97:12)

15.   Walk with integrity of heart (Ps. 101: 2)

16.   Gracious is the Lord, and righteous (Ps. 116:5)

17.   The Lord is a great God and a great King (Ps. 95:3)

18.   Bring an offering and come into His courts (Ps. 96:8)

19.   Mighty King, lover of justice (Ps. 99:4)

20.   All thy commandments are true (Ps. 119:151)

21.   Keep His testimonies and statues (Ps. 99:7)

22.   He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things (Ps. 107:9)

23.   Make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation (Ps. 95:1)

24.   Holy is He (Ps. 99:3)

25.   Thy word is a lamp to my feet (Ps.119:105)

26.   God is merciful (Ps. 116:5)

27.   He brought me out of darkness and He broke my bonds (Ps. 107:14)

28.   Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength (Ps. 96:7)

29.   With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord (Ps.109:30)

30.   Thou art fearful and wonderful (Ps. 139:14)

31.   Let us kneel before the Lord, our maker (Ps. 95:6)

32.   All things are thy servants (Ps. 119:91)

33.   The right hand of the Lord does valiantly (Ps. 118:15)

34.   Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle (Ps. 140:7)

35.   Call on the Lord (Ps. 99:6)

36.   With God we shall do valiantly; it is He who will tread down our foes (Ps. 108:13)

37.   Declare His glory and His marvelous works (Ps. 96:3)

38.   Amen and Amen (Ps.89:52)

39.   Thy word is firmly fixed in the heavens (Ps. 119:89)

40.   Sing to the Lord a new song (Ps. 96:1)

41.   My refuge and my fortress, My God in whom I trust (Ps.91:2)

42.   Give thanks (Ps.91:2)

43.   Thy judgments are right (Ps. 119:75)

44.   Let the redeemed of the Lord say so (Ps. 107:2)

45.   I bow down (Ps. 138:2)

46.   The Lord is good (Ps. 107:1)

47.   The Lord is my strength, song, and salvation (Ps. 118:14)

48.   Thy faithfulness reaches to the clouds (Ps. 108:4)

49.   Praise the Lord (Ps. 104:35)

50.   His righteousness endures forever (Ps. 111:3)

51.   O Lord my God, thou art very great (Ps. 104:1)

52.   He will judge the peoples with equity (Ps.96:10)

53.   Come into his presence with singing (Ps. 100:2)

54.   The Lord is great (Ps. 135:5)

55.   I will praise thee with an upright heart (Ps.119:7)

56.   Full of honor and majesty are His works (Ps.111:3)

57.   How precious to me are thy thoughts, O God (Ps. 139:17)

58.   Thou art clothed with honor and majesty (Ps. 104:1)

59.   Lift up your hands to the holy place, and bless the Lord (Ps. 134:2)

60.   My heart stands in awe of thy works (Ps.119:161)

61.   I will praise the Lord in the midst of a throng (Ps.109:30)

62.   I am thine (Ps. 119:94)

63.   The Lord is merciful and gracious (Ps. 103:8)

64.   O Lord,  my Lord, my strong deliver (Ps. 104:7)

65.   The Lord will keep me from all evil (Ps. 121:7)

66.   This is the day that the Lord hath made (Ps. 118:24)

67.   Wonderful are thy works (Ps. 139:17)

68.   All His precepts are trustworthy (Ps. 111:7)

69.   The Lord hath done great things for us, we are glad (Ps. 126:3)

70.   I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart (Ps. 111:1)

71.   How great are thy works, O Lord (Ps. 92:5)

72.   Oh, how I love thy law (Ps.119:97)

73.   Thou art my God (Ps. 118:28)

74.   Worship the Lord in holy array; tremble before Him (Ps. 96:9)

75.   Come let us worship and bow down (Ps 95:6)

76.   Thy hands have made and fashioned me (Ps. 119:77)

77.   Holy and terrible is His name (Ps. 111:9)

78.   He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous Mother of children (Ps. 113:9)

79.   Sing to the Lord, bless his name (Ps. 96:2)

80.   Be exalted,  O God, above the heavens (Ps. 108:5)

81.   Thy commandments are my delight (Ps. 119:143)

82.   Great is the glory of the Lord (Ps. 138:5)

83.   Consider the steadfast love of the Lord (Ps. 107:43)

84.   My lips will pour forth praise (Ps. 119:71)

85.   At midnight I rise to praise thee (Ps, 119:62)

86.   The Lord reigns; He is robed in majesty (Ps. 93:1)

87.   He sent redemption to His people (Ps. 111:9)

88.   I hope in thy word (Ps. 119:114)

89.   I thank thee that thou hast answered me (Ps.118:21)

90.   Harden not your hearts (Ps. 95:8)

91.   Declare His steadfast love and faithfulness (Ps.92:2)

92.   O Lord, how marvelous are thy works (Ps. 104:24)

93.   Hearken to His voice (Ps. 95:8)

94.   I rejoice at thy word (Ps. 119:62)

95.   The Lord is God and he hath given us light (Ps. 118:27)

96.   May the glory of the Lord endure forever (Ps. 104:31)

97.   Enter His gates w/thanksgiving and His courts w/praise (Ps. 100:4)

98.   To thy name give glory (Ps. 115:1)

99.   Break forth into joyous song and sing praises (Ps. 98:4)

100. Thou art my hiding place and my shield (Ps. 119:114)