There are times when joy feels like a distant memory—when your soul is sluggish and your spirit flat. The truth? Praise isn’t just a feeling; it’s a decision. A powerful, soul-shifting act of spiritual discipline. And it might be exactly what your heart needs right now.

Key Takeaways


Praise Breaks the Fog – When life feels heavy or your spirit seems dim, praising God shifts your perspective. It realigns your soul with His joy.


Joy Follows Focus – When you focus on God’s unchanging nature instead of your fluctuating circumstances, you create space for joy to return. (Psalm 21:6)


Praise Clears the Clutter – When life feels crowded with confusion, praise acts like a clearing wind. It sweeps out the fog and ushers in clarity, hope, and peace.


Start Where You Are – No need to fake it—just start with a simple truth: “God, You are good.” Let the Holy Spirit build from there.

Join the Conversation

What if we treated praise as our go-to move in every circumstance? This week, let’s flip the script. Don’t wait for your heart to catch up—lead it with praise. Share what you're praising God for with #LifeaudioNetwork, and let’s turn ordinary moments into altars of gratitude.

🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer

🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts:Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews

Full Transcript Below:

The Blessing of Praise

By Keri Eichberger

Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence. (Psalm 21:6) 

It wasn't too long ago. I was approaching Easter weekend, and my attitude and the posture of my heart didn’t match the praise I knew should be filling my soul—considering I was preparing to honor the most honorable moment in history. The most honorable man in history. And truth be told, the more I became aware of the dimness of my spirit, the more it became shadowed by self-disappointment for not feeling more uplifted in light of such a praiseworthy celebration.

Have you ever felt something similar? Can you remember a time you weren’t feeling as joyful as you felt you should’ve been? Or found yourself sad for no reason? Or maybe you did have a good reason to be down, but knew you really had even more reason to smile and be thankful. I get it. Some days I’m a bit blue and can’t quite put my finger on why. Sometimes it seems to stem from something silly. And then there are moments, like I felt leading up to Easter, when I was getting ready to have a big surgery and had been struggling through lots of disappointment, but still knew in my heart that God was immensely good and deserving of so much praise.

Praise. That is the key. I’ve been down dark roads before, and it has been offering up praise to my good God that was always the way out. I just needed that reminder. I needed it then, I need it now, and I’m guessing you might need this reminder too—time and again. There really is so much blessing wrapped up in our praise of the one who deserves it all.

Life is hard, no doubt. Some seasons don’t make sense. Certain situations find us sad and sorrowful. But there is something constant that we constantly forget. God is still good. And God’s goodness abounds everywhere and every moment. Even when things don’t feel good, God is good. And we will see it when we open our eyes and mouths of praise. 

Intersecting Faith and Life:

I made a decision that weekend, I’m making it now again, and I’d like to ask you to join me. Think of something to praise God for. There truly is so incredibly much. You can praise him for the details of his beautifully-creative creation, you can pour out praise for the promise of eternity, you can offer up praise for his word that reveals his ever-present love, comfort, and care. And you extend your unending praise for his perfectly sufficient provision over your life. We can all praise him for all of that today and every day.

And I believe, as we return to a heart of praise, and continue to pour out words and reflections of thanks and gratitude, the shadows will lift from our souls, and we will find more and more songs to sing. We will continue to receive boundless blessings as we continue to offer our praise… to him.

There are times when joy feels like a distant memory&mdash;when your soul is sluggish and your spirit flat. The truth? Praise isn&rsquo;t just a feeling; it&rsquo;s a decision. A powerful, soul-shifting act of spiritual discipline. And it might be exactly what your heart needs right now.
<hr data-start="553" data-end="556">
Key Takeaways
<ul data-start="583" data-end="1232">
<li data-start="583" data-end="760">
Praise Breaks the Fog &ndash; When life feels heavy or your spirit seems dim, praising God shifts your perspective. It realigns your soul with His joy.
</li>
<li data-start="761" data-end="922">
Joy Follows Focus &ndash; When you focus on God&rsquo;s unchanging nature instead of your fluctuating circumstances, you create space for joy to return. (Psalm 21:6)
</li>
<li data-start="923" data-end="1094">
Praise Clears the Clutter &ndash; When life feels crowded with confusion, praise acts like a clearing wind. It sweeps out the fog and ushers in clarity, hope, and peace.
</li>
<li data-start="1095" data-end="1232">
Start Where You Are &ndash; No need to fake it&mdash;just start with a simple truth: &ldquo;God, You are good.&rdquo; Let the Holy Spirit build from there.
</li>
</ul>
<hr data-start="1234" data-end="1237">
Join the Conversation
What if we treated praise as our go-to move in every circumstance? This week, let&rsquo;s flip the script. Don&rsquo;t wait for your heart to catch up&mdash;lead it with praise. Share what you're praising God for with #LifeaudioNetwork, and let&rsquo;s turn ordinary moments into altars of gratitude.
🎙🎶&nbsp;SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW &mdash; <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/">Your Nightly Prayer</a>
🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/crosswalk-talk-celebrity-christian-interviews/">Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews</a>
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
The Blessing of Praise
By Keri Eichberger
Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence. (Psalm 21:6)&nbsp;
It wasn't too long ago. I was approaching Easter weekend, and my attitude and the posture of my heart didn&rsquo;t match the praise I knew should be filling my soul&mdash;considering I was preparing to honor the most honorable moment in history. The most honorable man in history. And truth be told, the more I became aware of the dimness of my spirit, the more it became shadowed by self-disappointment for not feeling more uplifted in light of such a praiseworthy celebration.
Have you ever felt something similar? Can you remember a time you weren&rsquo;t feeling as joyful as you felt you should&rsquo;ve been? Or found yourself sad for no reason? Or maybe you did have a good reason to be down, but knew you really had even more reason to smile and be thankful. I get it. Some days I&rsquo;m a bit blue and can&rsquo;t quite put my finger on why. Sometimes it seems to stem from something silly. And then there are moments, like I felt leading up to Easter, when I was getting ready to have a big surgery and had been struggling through lots of disappointment, but still knew in my heart that God was immensely good and deserving of so much praise.
Praise. That is the key. I&rsquo;ve been down dark roads before, and it has been offering up praise to my good God that was always the way out. I just needed that reminder. I needed it then, I need it now, and I&rsquo;m guessing you might need this reminder too&mdash;time and again. There really is so much blessing wrapped up in our praise of the one who deserves it all.
Life is hard, no doubt. Some seasons don&rsquo;t make sense. Certain situations find us sad and sorrowful. But there is something constant that we constantly forget. God is still good. And God&rsquo;s goodness abounds everywhere and every moment. Even when things don&rsquo;t feel good, God is good. And we will see it when we open our eyes and mouths of praise.&nbsp;
Intersecting Faith and Life:
I made a decision that weekend, I&rsquo;m making it now again, and I&rsquo;d like to ask you to join me. Think of something to praise God for. There truly is so incredibly much. You can praise him for the details of his beautifully-creative creation, you can pour out praise for the promise of eternity, you can offer up praise for his word that reveals his ever-present love, comfort, and care. And you extend your unending praise for his perfectly sufficient provision over your life. We can all praise him for all of that today and every day.
And I believe, as we return to a heart of praise, and continue to pour out words and reflections of thanks and gratitude, the shadows will lift from our souls, and we will find more and more songs to sing. We will continue to receive boundless blessings as we continue to offer our praise&hellip; to him.

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.

Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:

☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It)
☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment
☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life
☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life
☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church
☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer
☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation
☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year

If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.
Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:
☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It) ☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment ☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life ☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life ☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church ☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer ☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation ☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year
If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/">https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.</a>

7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life.