She Reads Truth: Prayer in the BibleChikamu

Prayers of Praise in Scripture

Yesterday, we acknowledged the importance of gratitude to our Heavenly Father, but today we wonder: where do we even begin? It’s as if we just received the best present of our lives (every single day of our lives) and we’re sitting at our kitchen table with a blank pad of paper and a massive case of writer’s block trying to write a thank you note.

Fortunately, there are many examples in scripture of praise and thanksgiving for us to follow. David wanted to ensure that the Levites praised the Lord daily, and in 1 Chronicles 16 (NIV), we see his instructions to them:

• Proclaim His name. Make known what He has done. (v. 8)
• Sing to Him, tell of His wonderful acts. (v. 9)
• Seek His face always. (v. 11)
• Remember the wonders He has done and His miracles. (v. 12)
• Proclaim His salvation day after day. (v. 23)
• Declare His glory among all people. (v. 24)

David asked that all these things be done with great joy, with jubilant singing, with many instruments and voices. He wanted to pull out all the stops in giving God the glory He is due.

We can find more instruction on giving praise in the Psalms. Psalm 100 urges, “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalm 100:1-2, NIV, emphasis added)

We may not have bands of lyres and harps, of cymbals and trumpets. Any songs we sing may have the cat desperately scratching at the back door to get out. But we still have a voice (no matter how off-key) and an audience—perhaps of many, but most definitely of One.

Don’t think that God is so important that He doesn’t desire your praise. His heart is so tender for us, He longs for us to praise and adore Him. He loves to be loved. Tell Him you love Him. Praise Him in your prayers. He’s listening.