The amount of time we spend praising God is the greatest single indicator of where we are in our relationship with Him. Everything starts from this relationship. Praising and thanking God should not be something we do only when everything is good; the times when we are in conflict, when we feel the most stressed and frustrated, are the times when it is most important to praise Him. Praise and worship are powerful, and change our situation; this should be our first response to trouble, not simply an afterthought. Praising God in all circumstances strengthens and builds up our faith; it causes us to focus on what He says instead of on our problems. True praise and thanksgiving come from the heart, and are responses to God’s love for us.