Praise!

The Psalms constantly exhort us to 'praise' the Lord - and to do so with real enthusiasm: with joy & gladness, with dancing & with every instrument imaginable - even clashing cymbals.
But it strikes me that, at times, those of us who are most concerned to proclaim, believe and obey the Bible are those who are most restrained when it comes to praising God together. If an unbeliever was to come into our Sunday meetings, would they think we really meant what we sang? Would they get the impression that we valued and enjoyed the Lord God above all else? Would they think that we were in any way happy to be God's people?!
Praise and proclamation go hand-in-hand. When people see and hear us praising God, they draw conclusions about the God we worship, the value we place on him and the difference he makes to us.
Words and actions also go together. We can say we value Christ above all else, but do our actions demonstrate that when we sing and say his praises at church?

I will extol you, my God and King,

and bless your name forever and ever.

Every day I will bless you

and praise your name forever and ever.

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,

and his greatness is unsearchable.

One generation shall commend your works to another,

and shall declare your mighty acts.

On the glorious splendor of your majesty,

and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.

They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,

and I will declare your greatness.

They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness

and shall sing aloud of your righteousness. 

Psalm 145.1-7 (ESV)