Foreword

We hear it from our pulpits. We sing it in our songs. But when you really think about it, just what does it mean to praise? The book of Psalms, that heartfelt, straightforward and candidly honest collection of writings from godly men of the past, is literally brimming with the theme of praise. Yet how can praise possibly be relevant to our everyday lives? And even if we wanted to, how do we begin to praise? In Isaiah 61:3 we are instructed to put on “the garment of praise.” Obviously God considers it a vital piece of our spiritual wardrobe, so we must assume that praise is to be an integral part of our lives. But how?

It is because of these and other questions that we're so glad Marianne Novoselac has written this book. A sensitive intercessor and mother of five, she has responded to the Lord's inspiration to parallel, creatively, the stages of praise with that of carrying a precious child in the womb. From intimacy to birth, Marianne walks us from the relevance and origins of praise through to its ultimate fulfillment in expression. Just as the beginnings of life must proceed gradually through various stages, so must the life conceived in praise. And with the utmost care and nurturing, that life will eventually mature and break forth, proclaiming its existence in a loud voice. What a glorious birth! Begin your journey of praise and one day soon you too will hold your miracle.

Ron & Ann Mainse
Hosts of 100 Huntley Street