WEEK 1
 
DESCRIPTION
In this teaching, Pastor Blunt starts a series about the power we have when we have a praise life. This week we learn how to obtain peace by praising God for what he has done. We believe as you read these notes God's Word is working in and through you.
 
BIG IDEA
•    When you and I praise God, for what he has already done, it will release his peace into our lives and it pushes stress out.
 
NOTES
We were made to praise God - Revelation 4:11.

It is through praise that we get closer to God.
 
We must praise God for what he has already done.

It will release peace into our life and remove stress.
 
David had no one who was for him. There was a point where everyone was against him except God.
But if God be for you who can dare be against you.
 
Praise is acknowledging God.  Every time we do it, God is magnified; which means He gets bigger and your problems smaller.
 
5 TOP CAUSES FOR STRESS:
 
•    Schedules, relationships, conflict at work and at school, and physical pain. But the number one is financial stress.
 
•    We have small groups that can help you with financial problems (visit cotr.org/groups)
 
Luke 21:34 AMPC
 But take heed to yourselves and be on your guard, lest your hearts be overburdened and depressed (weighed down) with the giddiness and headache and nausea of self-indulgence, drunkenness, and worldly worries and cares pertaining to [the business of] this life, and [lest] that day come upon you suddenly like a trap or a noose.
 
Right before Jesus comes back, guard your spirits because people will be stressed out like never before.

5 THINGS PRAISE WILL DO FOR YOU:

1.    Praise puts God first place.    
•     Praising God is acknowledging his actions, nature, and attributes
•     Whatever we worship, we will take on its attributes.

2.    Placing dependence on God.

3.    Deepens our relationship with God.

4.    Praise should be our first response.
•    Because we know God is in control.
•    God is for you, and that’s more than enough.

5.    It releases peace.
•    And it pushes stress out.
 
Galatians 4: 6-8
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. 7 Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.
 
•    Grateful hearts have contentment.
•    Contentment is enjoying the journey.
•    If you lack contentment praise God for what he has done.
 
Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
 
•    We will experience his peace after we praise.
 
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

•    Think about these things and it will change your emotions and circumstances.
•    Get your thoughts in line and stress will leave.
 
Psalms 29:11 KJV
The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.
 
•    His peace is a promise.
 
IF WE WANT STRESS OUT, WE NEED TO:
1.    Make Jesus (Prince of life) Lord of your life.
2.    Make a daily list of 3 things you are thankful for and give God thanks for them.
 
Psalms 9: 1-3 AMPC
1 I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will show forth (recount and tell aloud) all Your marvelous works and wonderful deeds! 2 I will rejoice in You and be in high spirits; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High! 3 When my enemies turned back, they stumbled and perished before You.
 
•    Praise brings God’s presence into your life.
 
3.    Stop throughout the day and praise God for what he has already done in your life.
 
Psalms 119:164 KJV
“Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.”
 
GOLDEN NUGGETS
•    Praising God is acknowledging his actions, nature, and attributes.
•    Grateful hearts have contentment.
•    Praise brings God’s presence into your life.

WEEK 2
 
DESCRIPTION
In this teaching, Pastor Blunt continues the benefits of having a praise life. This week we learn what happens when we praise Him for what He is currently doing. We believe as you read these notes God's Word is working in and through you.
 
BIG IDEA
When you and I praise God for what He is doing, it will release His Joy into our life.
 
NOTES
Praising God is:
•    Acknowledging God for who He is and His attributes.
•    Attention-When we praise Him, we focus on Him and He becomes bigger.
•    Aware – God-consciousness.
•    Attracts anointing in our life.
 
Whatever we praise God for, we attract (praise is a magnet, if I praise for healing, I’ll get healing. Praise for increase and get increase. Praise for favor and attract favor).
 
•    When we praise Him for what He has done it will release peace.
•    When we praise Him for what He is doing it releases joy.
 
The opposite of praising is complaining. If we complain, we remain. But if we praise Him, we are in His will.
 
When we offer a sacrifice of praise for what He is doing (even if I don’t see it), it will bring joy.
 
God’s joy brings strength, security, and stability.
 
Hebrews 13:15
Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of our lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.
•    Our praise always needs to be on good days and bad days.
 
Psalms 16:7-10
7 I will bless the Lord, Who has given me counsel; yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons. 8 I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

•    We are immovable because of our life of praise.
 
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory [my inner self] rejoices; my body too shall rest and confidently dwell in safety.
 
•    We go from sad to glad, from victim to victor.
•    Praise will affect your whole body.

10 For You will not abandon me to Sheol (the place of the dead), neither will You suffer Your holy one [Holy One] to see corruption. 11 You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.
 
•    Praise brings His presence. His presence brings joy.
 
Habakkuk asks God where He is in chapter one. Here he is a victim and depressed. This is what God tells him:
 
Habakuk1:5 AMPC
Look around [you, Habakkuk, replied the Lord] among the nations and see! And be astonished! Astounded! For I am putting into effect a work in your days [such] that you would not believe it if it were told you.
 
GOLDEN NUGGETS
•    Praising God for what He is doing will bring Joy.
•    God’s joy brings strength, security, and stability.
 
CONFESSION
God is doing something in my life!

WEEK 3
 
DESCRIPTION
In this teaching, Pastor Blunt finishes his series, The Power of a Praise Life. This week we learn how to obtain peace by praising God for what He has done. We believe as you read these notes God's Word is working in and through you.
 
BIG IDEA
When you and I praise God for what He is going to do, it will release His hope into our life.
 
NOTES
Praising God is:
1. Acknowledging God for who He is and His attributes.
2. Attention-When we praise Him, we focus on Him and He gets bigger than our problems.
3. Aware – God-consciousness.
 
When we praise Him:
1.    It will please Him.
2.    It stops the attacks of the devil.
a.    We all are in a battle but according to Psalm 8:2, our praise paralyzes the devil.
3.    It transforms us.
a.    In our attitude, emotions, and mood.
4.    It changes our circumstances.
 
Psalm 113:3 TLB Praise Him from sunrise to sunset!
 
•    We need to praise Him all the time.
•    Praise is a skill-set we must develop.
 
Psalm 119:164 KJV
Seven times a day do I praise Thee because of Thy righteous judgments.
 
•    We should stop 7 times a day to praise Him.
•    It’s a skill-set we need to grow in.
•    Our life will be better if we stop and give God praise.
 
What praise produces:
 
1.    Praise Him for what He has done, and it will bring peace.
2.    Praise Him for what He is doing, and it will bring joy.
3.    Praise Him for what He is going to do, and it will bring hope.
 
Praising Him for what He is going to do:
•    Brings hope
•    The highest form of praise
•    When we have hope in our future it gives us power in our present
 
H.O. P. E.: holding onto positive expectations.
 
•    Hopeless people are bitter, angry, negative, and critical
 
When we praise Him for what He is going to do it causes us to:
1.    Focus on God’s plan for our life.
            a. Focus on His plan you are excited.
2.    It takes our faith to a new level.
            a. Praise is the voice of faith
3.    Will force us to think about good things.
 
What do we do between the time we petition God and its realization? We praise Him.
 
In Romans, we see Abraham’s story. His promise took a lot of years to come true and praise helped him keep hope.

Romans 4:18-21 NLT
18 Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” 19 And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb. 20 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. 21 In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.

His faith grew because of praise.

 21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever He promises.

CALL TO ACTION
Make a vision board where you can see God’s future for you and praise Him for it.