Praise Prayers

PRAISE PRAYERS

Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me! Psalm 66:20

Each year when we celebrate Christmas with my hubby’s side of the family we play our own version of the Newlywed Game with his parents, siblings and their spouses. This year one of the questions to the guys was, “What one thing would your wife say that you need to get around to doing?” I guessed that Mike would say his year-end paperwork. He answered that he should get around to telling me more often how much he appreciates me. Sweet. Thing is it’s also true in reverse. I should also tell Mike more often how much I appreciate him. And in all honesty, I should certainly tell God more and more how much I appreciate, adore, and love Him.

Can you identify? Are your prayers more petition than praise? Are they more asking than adoration? Do you quickly get through a couple of “I praise You’s . . .” at the beginning of your prayer so you can get to the heart of your prayer, the things you and your loved ones need most?

In her book, Listening for God, Marilyn Hontz writes, “My husband, Paul, taught me the method of ‘praise prayers.’ Years ago he challenged one of our small groups to pray our requests but to do it completely using praise and thanksgiving (no asking).”

For example, if you feel weighted down by uncertainties about the year ahead pray, “Father I praise You for daily bearing my burdens and giving me power and strength for all the circumstances this year will contain. You are my hope and praise” (Psalm 68:19, 68:35, 71:14).

As you pray for your club pray, “Lord God, I thank You for all the things the girls and counselors are learning about prayer this season. I praise You for not rejecting our prayers or withholding Your love from us! I rejoice that we can approach You in prayer with freedom and confidence, and that our prayers for our families, one another, and this world are powerful and effective” (Psalm 66:20, Ephesians 3:12, James 5:16).

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess his name (Hebrews 13:15). When reflecting on this verse Pastor John Piper said, “Most of us live at a level of praise that is pathetically beneath this text. God wants from us lips of praise. Lips that speak and sing the praises of His name.”

Prayer Step: Go verbal! Use your lips to sing, shout, and speak your praise and thanksgiving to God. Choose a day that from sunup until sundown you only pray “praise prayers.”

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Apostle Paul

Grace and peace,
Lenae