Should I praise God to get a blessing?

Chuck Smith, The Philosophy of Ministry of Calvary Chapel: The truest praise is not something that is done out of the motive in my heart to get a blessing. If I am praising the Lord just so I can get a blessing, that's not true praise. That's a self-centered attitude. The object for praise in that case is me, not God. The truest praise is that automatic response of my heart at the recognition of the grace of God to me when God has just done something fantastic for me, even though I have failed miserably, yet God just lays some rich blessing on me and my heart responds, "Oh, God, You are too much; I can't believe Your love and goodness." That's the purest form of praise; that which comes spontaneously from my heart at the recognition of God's grace in my life. I don't praise the Lord so I can create an atmosphere in which God will come down and bless me. My praises are a response to the blessings that God has bestowed. God is the Initiator; man is the responder. From Chuck Smith's books, used by permission of The Word For Today.

Verified. Every scripture quotation on this page has been checked word-for-word against the King James text. Last reviewed 2026-10-18.

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Should I praise God to get a blessing? → wsb.bible/answers/should-i-praise-god-to-get-a-blessing

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