"Total Praise" is a song written by Richard Smallwood, first recorded by Richard Smallwood with Vision on the 1996 album, Adoration: Live in Atlanta.
[1] It has subsequently become one of his most popular songs.
[2] Smallwood wrote the song, during a time when he was serving as a caregiver to his mother who was experiencing dementia and a family friend who was dying of cancer.
Smallwood explained, “I felt left by God, I was trying to write a pity-party song, but God pulled me to do a praise song.
God said, ‘I want your praise no matter what the situation you are in, good or bad.’ It’s about trusting him.” The song is based on Psalm 121 ', in which David wrote about relying on God during his most difficult times: “You are the source of my strength/ You are the strength of my life/ I lift my hands in total praise to You.”[2]