The Prayer of Praise and Worship
Praise and worship are a subject all of their own, and the Bible record abounds with testimonies of praise and worship playing an integral part in warfare, intimacy, overcoming difficulty, releasing God's presence and many other manifestations of God's power.
Praise and worship also form an integral part of the child of God's prayer life.Because prayer is essentially communication with God, and as a born again child such communication is as natural to our spirit man as breathing is to our natural man, the believer does not have to manufacture elegant or spiritual-sounding prayers to impress God. The simple heartfelt overflow of the heart constitutes true prayer.
The New Testament encourages the believer that thanksgiving is a natural and integral part of our prayer life:
"Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God." (Phil 4:6 AMP)
"Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life], being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving." (Col 4:2 AMP)
The prayer of praise and worship are part of our new priestly duty before God. Revelation 1:6 says we have been made kings and priests before God. As such we are called to offer up spiritual sacrifices unto God our Father. Such sacrifices of praise are acceptable and pleasing unto God:
"Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name." (Heb 13:15)
In the prayer of praise and worship the focus moves from us, our needs, our requests and intercessions for others, and falls upon God. We exalt Him not only for what He has done, but who He is. In the light of His presence and Person, other things fade to insignificance, even our most pressing request, and we are caught up into the eternal realm.
With angels and tens of thousands of witnesses we join a chorus that will ring from age to age; Praise to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the thrice holy God of gods. From such a standpoint the challenges we face diminish in size, and the faithfulness and power of God fills our vision.
God truly is worthy of our praise,
