A 19th-century writer once wrote, “We never praise the Lord better than when we do those things which are pleasing in his sight.”

That makes me think of Psalm 101. The psalm writer’s intention is to live in commitment to the praiseworthy Lord: “I will sing of your love and justice; to you, Lord, I will sing praise. I will be careful to lead a blameless life—when will you come to me?” (verses 1,2).

Notice the ways the psalmist intends to do this: “I will conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart. I will not look with approval on anything that is vile. … Whoever slanders their neighbor in secret, I will put to silence” (verses 2,3,5).

Praising the Lord through our actions is a lot of work! God asks us to spend intentional time with him, avoid evil influences, and love our neighbors as ourselves, just to name a few. We’re called to live lives worthy of our calling (Ephesians 4). Consider these words from the book of James: “Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (2:15-17).

Our faith expresses itself in loving actions—a form of praise to God. What commitments, with the Spirit’s help, can you make to praise God with your moment-by-moment living?