The Family Disciple Me Podcast // Discipleship Starts With a Conversation

LIFE VERSES | Fuel Your Praises | Convo #5 in "Finding Scriptures That Shape Your Story"

• Tosha Williams for FDM • Season 6 • Episode 10

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Do you ever feel overwhelmed by life's challenges, desperately needing a reset button? Tosha Williams reveals the transformative power of praise that has repeatedly carried her through difficult seasons. "When I praise God, my life is empowered like nothing else," she shares, offering a spiritual practice that lifts our eyes from problems and refuels depleted souls.

Drawing from the rich tradition of biblical praise—particularly Psalm 118—Williams unpacks how worship isn't merely religious duty but spiritual renewal. The psalm's intimate declaration "You are my God, and I will praise you" becomes a personal touchstone for finding strength amid struggle. Williams vulnerably shares how her own family has leaned on the refrain "God is good and His love endures through all generations" during their hardest moments, demonstrating how praise provides perspective when circumstances feel overwhelming.

Beyond personal transformation, Williams explores how praise profoundly impacts our relationships. When we vocalize gratitude and worship, people notice what anchors our hope. She shares her family's beautiful Thanksgiving tradition where everyone responds to shared blessings with "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His faithful love endures forever"—creating a chorus of praise that unites them in gratitude. These practical examples show how weaving worship into everyday moments creates contagious faith communities.

Whether you're running on empty or seeking deeper spiritual practices, this episode offers both encouragement and practical steps. Access the conversation guide in the Family Disciple Me app (SOON TO BE RELEASED!!!) to continue this journey personally and with others. Remember Williams' powerful challenge: "You can choose to pout or praise." Which will you choose today?

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The Family Disciple Me ministry exists to catalyze devotion driven discipleship in our homes and around the world. We believe that discipleship starts with a conversation, and FDM provides free, easily-accessible, biblical resources to encourage these meaningful conversations along life's way. Sign up through our website to be "the first to know" about upcoming releases and resources (including the FDM App - coming soon!!!) You can also follow Family Disciple Me on social media.

Family Disciple Me is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry, and all donations are tax deductible. More information, blogs, statement of faith and contact info can be found at familydiscipleme.org

Speaker 1:

I can't tell you how many times I need a personal reset in my life. I don't know about you, but I find it so easy to get distracted by the hard things, the difficult things, the messes in my life. The only thing that lifts my eyes off of all of these things and changes me from the inside out is praise. I don't know why this is true, but I do know that when I praise God, my life is empowered like nothing else. When I pour out praise to the King of the universe, when I spend time adoring and thanking and exalting in God, my life is refilled and refueled like nothing else does. Hi, my name is Tasha Williams and, on behalf of the Family Disciple Me ministry, I want to welcome you today, as we continue talking about life versus finding scriptures that shape our story, and as we do this today, we're going to specifically talk about praise, because praising God changes everything.

Speaker 1:

The Bible is filled with so many passages of praise. At the very end of the Bible, in the book of Revelation, we see that praise fills the heavens and the earth. The author of Revelation wrote that all the creatures praise together to him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever. The Psalms invite us into this praise as well. Psalm 34, 3, says glorify the Lord with me, let us exalt his name together. When I'm running on empty scriptures of praise and worship like this, refuel my heart to keep on going, to keep on living, to keep on serving, to keep on leading, to keep on seeking the Lord. So as we talk about this today, I want us to look at a key verse that's found in Psalm 118, verses 28 and 29 say you are my God. Sung by God's people as they celebrate His love, his help, his salvation. It's the psalm that declares his help, his salvation. It's the psalm that declares the Lord is my strength and my defense. He's become my salvation. It's also the psalm that Jesus quoted when he entered Jerusalem, when he said the stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This whole chapter calls us to fuel our lives with praise, because God is good and His love endures forever.

Speaker 1:

So I challenge you to think for a moment how has God been good to you? This may be an amazing season in your life, or it may be the most difficult season you've ever encountered. May be the most difficult season you've ever encountered. But regardless of where you are on that trajectory, that continuum and it's probably a little bit of both how has God been good to you? How has His love impacted your heart in this season? How has His presence helped you through the challenges you faced? Psalm 118 reminds us to make this so personal you are my God and I will praise you. This isn't abstract. This is so intimate. If God is your God, then you can lift your voice to him today. You can pray God. I will praise you, I will exalt you, I will give thanks because you are good and your love endures forever.

Speaker 1:

I've watched my husband repeat that last refrain over and over again in recent days, as our family has been going through a very difficult time. We may talk about whatever it is that's difficult in a certain day, or whatever it is, but he'll say I know that God is good and his love endures through all generations. He says that again over and over and he invites us as a family to say that with him. Friend, you may be carrying burdens, you may be feeling weary, you may be overwhelmed, you may be even running on empty right now, and I get that. I've been there, I may actually be there. But what helps me get going is going back to the scriptures of praise. When I speak out who God is, when I praise him for who he is, for what he's done, my perspective shifts. Praise lifts my eyes off the mess around me and turns my focus and attention back to the one who holds me together, who holds it all together. We all need this reminder along the way. And thing is, praising God isn't just for us, it's a testimony to others. I am so encouraged when other people express praise and worship. I'm challenged to join them in that. When we express our gratitude, when we express our worship out loud, people around us notice. They see who we trust and why we trust in Him. They see why we hope and what our hope is. That's why it's so powerful to weave praise into our relationships.

Speaker 1:

So think about what this could look like in your home. Have a family conversation about what you can praise God for. Around the dinner table or at bedtime, you can say what's one thing that you can praise God for today. If you live with roommates, you could pick a psalm of praise and you could read it aloud together then talk about what stands out. Or if you're with a friend, you can share a scripture that fuels your gratitude and invites them into joining you to give thanks with you.

Speaker 1:

Recently, my family started a new Thanksgiving tradition. Just like always, every person around the table shares something that God has done in their lives a blessing, a miracle, a kindness, an opportunity, an achievement, a serendipitous moment just something that matters to them. And when they finish, all of us respond together with the words give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His faithful love endures forever. What we found is that that's become a chorus of praise in our family. It's a course of praise that reminds us of God's goodness and then it unites us in gratitude, so special. So what would it look like for you to create a habit like this? It doesn't have to be just like my family, but something like this in your circles? I believe that praise is contagious. Praise is uplifting, it's powerful, it changes our perspective, and when we speak God's praise, others are invited to exalt Him as well.

Speaker 1:

So with this, I invite you to spend some time in the conversation guide that goes along with this episode. It's available at the Family Disciple Me app. Use it first in your own personal devotions as you seek Him. As you meet with God, and then let Psalm 118 become a part of the conversation that you have as you go from seek Him into speak Him. Take that into conversation with someone that God has entrusted to you. There are questions in the discipleship conversation guide, but you can also let that lead you into prayer. It can lead you into rabbit trails of conversations about what you're thankful for. It can lead you into listening to God's voice about how he wants you to give Him praise. If you're not sure where to start, there's plenty of recommendations in the Discipleship Conversation Guide.

Speaker 1:

So as you go today, remember, as you're searching the scriptures to shape your story, as you're spending time in God's Word, I challenge you to keep your eye open for life verses that can fuel your praises. Bottom line is you can choose to pout or you can choose to praise. Let Scripture uplift your heart and empower your life and as you do, I believe that others are going to be drawn to praise God as well. Oh, friend, may the Lord be glorified in your life today. May he be honored and blessed by how you spend time with him, how you seek him and speak him. I look forward to seeing you in the next episode, as we conclude these conversations about life verses, and talk specifically about fulfill your pledge. Go with God, friend, be encouraged.