PRAYER TALK – August 12, 2013 (Starting Off Prayer With Praise)

How are you starting your prayer?   Are you starting your prayer with requests or are you starting it with praise to God?   We need to make sure we are starting all of our prayer with praise to God.    To praise means to glorify or extol.    It means to express approval or admiration.

When you take a look at the Lord’s Prayer that Jesus taught the disciples, the first line of the prayer praises God.    It hallows the name of the Lord.    The word hallow means to honor as holy.   It means to sanctify and to consecrate.    When something is consecrated, it is set apart.   

Matthew 6:9

King James Version (KJV)

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Luke 11:2

King James Version (KJV)

And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

You have to understand, when you offer praise … you are glorifying God.   

Psalm 50:23

King James Version (KJV)

Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.

In order to truly praise God, you have to know why you are praising Him.    You need to understand the importance of praise and you need to be willing to vocalize it.   

Hebrews 13:15-16

King James Version (KJV)

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.  But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Psalm 100:4-5

King James Version (KJV)

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.  For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

There are many reasons to praise God, so just begin to Praise Him for all that HE is, for His righteousness, for His word, and so much more.