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Praise the Lord (Psalm 150:1).

Years ago, I took a class with the late Dallas Willard. He opened the class with two instructions. First, that each of us sleep 10-12 hours for the first 4 nights, after that a minimum of 8, but 10 was better. It was a two-week course at a retreat centre, so sleep was part of the deal, but that much? When the protests had died down, Dallas explained that fatigue was one of the greatest problems in the North American church today, especially among church leaders. There was a room full of us. Fatigue hinders our ability to pay proper attention to things. Christians have long believed that the two things we need to pay attention to most are: God and ourselves. Sleep deprived Christians don\u2019t pay attention to either.

His second instruction was to find a lonely place in the wilderness and shout Psalms 145-150 at the top of our lungs. The retreat centre was in the foothills of a desolate California mountain range. Lonely places were abundant. But for a second time an explanation was needed. Dallas patiently explained that praising God is difficult. We resist. It helps if our bodies lead the way. Further, the ending of the book of Psalms is raucous. It demands energy. Sitting quietly at the kitchen table whispering these psalms just won\u2019t do.

I\u2019ve often thought about these two strange instructions. Fifteen years later, I\u2019m convinced that Dallas Willard was right on both counts. After I got home, I used to climb the hill behind our house in Frankford to shout those Psalms. But then the snow began to fall and well, you can guess what happened.

At the end of the Psalter we are given a glimpse of what is happening everywhere, all the time: the worship of God. And what the new heavens and earth will be like. Psalm 150 is probably the most challenging of all the psalms: it\u2019s not about you, it\u2019s not about me, it\u2019s about God; all about God! Why have Christians always gathered for worship services? Not for our sake, but because God is worthy of our worship.

This psalm gives us the basics of worship. Where is God to be praised? In his sanctuary, in his mighty heavens, of course. This is God\u2019s throne room from where he rules the universe. Remembering where he is causes us to look up to him and away from ourselves.

Why should we worship him? \u201cPraise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.\u201d This is a summation of his powerful rule and provision. We are allowed to pause here and fill in some details from our own lives.

When the Psalm gets to the question of the \u2018how of worship\u2019, things get a bit chaotic. \u201cPraise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.\u201d As I said, its raucous. All the stops are pulled out.

Finally, the psalm asks \u2018Who? Who should praise the Lord?\u201d And the answer is: everything needs to praise the Lord. \u201cLet everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.\u201d

In this final psalm its like, \u201cA lot has been said about God in all these psalms; in light of what has said, you know all the reasons to praise God. Just do it.\u201d

Our praise of God is more than music. Its more than worship services. We believe that everything Christians do ought to be acts of worship. \u2018We are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices\u201d (Romans 12:2). Everything is to be done to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31). However, such living is normally fuelled, or least encouraged, by the traditional Sunday worship services. So, let\u2019s admit that it is more difficult when we can\u2019t meet together.

What ways have you discovered to keep praising God robustly during COVID? Do you need to get more sleep? Let me encourage you to find ways to pay more attention to God and to yourself. And praise the Lord! Just do it!