Who can teach me to praise the Lord?

The secret of the joy that fills the soul of St. Jacob of Sarug is his faith that God created him to be His harp, played by God Himself. He says, “A harp cannot play itself unless the one bearing it strikes its strings. Otherwise, it remains mute and silent. The harp player moves his fingers skillfully to awaken a sound in them … The string is the soul. When she is silent and bereft of praise, strike her that she may sing with the voice of glory in great awe. You do not need the praises of those on earth, but the human race needs you to bestow Your glory upon it, O You who are rich.”

585 St. Methodius of Olympus, Concerning Free Will (ANF 6:356).