PRAYING POINTS from Sunday 04.03.2022, "Awe of God."
How AWEsome for us!
You and I are told in Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” So, our praying finds is source and its end goal to be thanksgiving to God. These words echo the opening exclamation of Psalm 146:1-2, “Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.”
So, how can we “praise the Lord” in our praying?
Throughout your day, give thanks to God for all the good you experience and see. Big and small. Remember, the Bible says all good things come from God. (See James 1:16-17, “Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
Do not stop here though. Trace all these good things back to the Giver – to God.
Consider what type of Being would give you such good things? Then, praise the Lord for being such a God.
You cannot stop here either. You have to keep pursuing the praise of the Lord. Look to the Bible for the character and qualities of who God is. God desires for you to know him so he can reveal more and more of himself to you. You are seeking a relationship of mutual love.
I suggest you begin with the last five chapters of the Book of Psalms. Stick with one Psalm for many days until you experience in some way the awe of God. Here are a few verses from each of these five psalms personalized for you to show you how to make them a vital part of your praying.
From Psalm 146
I praise the Lord, for you are the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them—you remain faithful to me (and all humanity, especially believers) forever.
Amen
From Psalm 147
I praise the Lord, you heal my broken heart and you bind up my wounds.
You care for me even though you are the One, God, who determined the number of the stars and you call them each by name.
Amen
Please, please note: these psalms all assume that God cares for ALL Creation and specifically for his people (Israel in the Old Testament and now Christians in the New testament.) God is not simply your personal god. Yet, he really does cares for you personally. So, as I have re-written these psalms for your personal praying I have reflected this intimate relationship.
From Psalm 148 – join with all of Creation in praying the Lord.
I praise the Lord!
I call out - Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights above.
I call out - Praise the Lord, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
I call out - Praise the Lord, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars.
I call out – Praise the Lord, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.
I praise the Lord along with all of Creation who praise the name of the Lord,
for the Lord deserve all our praise because at your command they were created, and you established them for ever and ever—you issued a decree that will never pass away.
Amen
From Psalm 149
I praise the Lord! For you the Lord take delight in your people; you take delight in me. You crown the humble with victory.
As a faithful person, I rejoice in this honor and sing for joy in my bed.
Amen
From Psalm 150
I praise the Lord! I Praise you in your sanctuary; praise you in your mighty heavens.
I praise the Lord! I praise you for your acts of power; I praise you for your surpassing greatness.
Amen
You can use almost every Scripture as a source of praising the Lord in your praying.
Read the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10
I praise the Lord!
Though you are the Creator of the cosmos, you seek people out to know them.
You make our sins evident to us and then you offer us forgiveness.
You strengthen us to be more like Jesus.
Amen
If you make praising the Lord the beginning of your praying, you will begin to experience a true awe of God. God will also draw you deeper into a relationship with him. How AWEsome for us!
Stick with it.
Your friend in praying,
picture: thanks to ben-white-k-unsplash.