David’s prayer for the dedication of the palace was relational. He considered what God had done. “I will exalt you, O Lord . . . I will give you thanks forever (Psalm 30:1,12).”
When we dedicate ourselves and our stuff to God, we too should pray relationally. Life and all things come from God.
I have trusted in the Lord without wavering (Psalm 26:1).
I will praise the Lord (Psalm 26:12)
Trust precedes praise.
In you our fathers put their trust, they trusted and you delivered them (Psalm 22:4).
I will declare your name to my brothers, in the congregation I will praise you (Psalm 22:22).
Future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn–for he has done it (Psalm 22:31).
God is not a man, that he should lie,
nor a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Does he speak and then not act?
Does he promise and not fulfill? (Numbers 23:19).
The God we trust is worthy of praise-filled prayer.
I will praise God’s name with singing,
and I will honor him with thanksgiving.
For this will please the Lord (Psalm 69:30-31 bold mine).
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will recount all your wonderful deeds.
I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High (Psalm 9:1-2).
Thankful, praise-filled prayers bring joy.
Powerless against a great army, they cried to the Lord. “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you (2 Chronicles 20:12).”
They were told, “Do not be afraid. The Lord will be with you (2 Chronicles 20:17).”
They responded with praise and the Lord fought for them. None of the enemy escaped alive. There was so much spoil it took them three days to take it all. (Read the whole story in 2 Chronicles 20).
We pray because the battle is the Lord’s.
The Lord knows what we’re going to say, even before we say it. But he still bends down to listen to us pray (see Psalm 139:4; 116:2).
The Lord listens so well; may He hear us praise His name!
Here’s how the Israelites worshiped God when He delivered them:
“I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously . . .
The Lord will reign forever and ever (Exodus 15:1-18)!”
Worship when God answers you.
A sign, etched in stone, cries out God is worthy of glory.
May we who pass by pray, “Hallelujah! Amen.”
A Blog on Prayer 