August Prayer Theme

Starting on August 4, we begin our 21 days of prayer and fasting at our Sunday service.

One thing I really like about these meetings is that they start with praise. So pray for whom and in whatever manner you want this month, but always begin with praise.

Praise expresses recognition, reassurance, and/or admiration. It is expressed verbally and through body language (facial expressions and gestures such as waving arms, clapping, and dancing).

"Praise and worship of God are always acts of will. We praise God even when we don't feel like it. Sometimes, our problems choke out our good intentions, so we have to establish praise as a way of life. And it becomes a way of life when we make it our first reaction to what we face and not a last resort. Now is the time to lift a prayer of praise to God for everything in your life. Thank Him for His Word, faithfulness, love, grace, and healing. Thank Him for what He has done for you personally.

Keep in mind that whatever you thank the Lord for — peace, financial blessing, health, a new job, an end to depression — will start the process of its being released because God ALWAYS answers our prayers.

Apart from His bountiful gifts, God is worthy of our praise simply for who He is. And it is good for us to acknowledge this. It is good to praise Him when we feel like it and when we don't.

The word worship means "to kiss toward," so prayers of praise and worship can not help but put us into his presence.

Sing to the Lord a new song.....

Why you should praise God EVERY day

1. Praise gets our focus off ourselves and back on God. In our often "selfie" focused world, we need this constant reminder - life is not all about us. We may know that in our heads, but our hearts often think differently. We're prone to selfishness; He desires our eyes be set firmly on Him because that's where our true hope is found. He is worthy of our praise, no matter what we face daily.

"Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness!" Psa. 150:2

"And my tongue shall speak of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long." Psa. 35:28

2. Praise brings us to a place of humility. We remember our dependency on God as we acknowledge our need for Him. As we praise Him as Creator and King of the world, we admit and recognize that we're not in control, but He is. He is above all.

"Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods." Psa. 95:2-3

"I will give you thanks in the great congregation: I will praise you among many people." Psa. 35:18

3. Praise makes the enemy flee. It pushes back the darkness surrounding us and blocks the attacks and hissing lies over us. Evil will not stick around if we're praising our God, who will fight our battles for us. In the story of Jehoshaphat, we see God miraculously defeat the enemy because of the people's obedience to praise Him.

"As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated" 2 Chron. 20:22

4. Praise leaves no room for complaining and negativity. Sometimes, even in our prayers, we tend to complain about our problems. God knows our hearts. And He cares about all that concerns us. But through praise, we're focused on Him, no longer allowing too much attention to be centered around the struggles. We're reminded of what He has already done in our lives. We're reminded that He knows what concerns us and can take care of all that burdens us.

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy." Psa. 103:2-4

"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." Heb. 13:15

5. Praise makes room for God's blessings in our lives. He will not hold back His goodness; praise opens the gateway of blessing as we come into the Presence of our King.

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!" Psa. 100:4

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:" Eph. 1:3

6. Praise invites His presence. God dwells close to us when we praise Him. He lives there. He looks for it.

"He inhabits the praises of His people." Psa. 22:3:

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light;" 1 Pet. 2:9