March 12, 2013: Praising God

Begin your prayer time by lighting a candle or by ringing the opening bell in the right hand column at the website here. Allow the ringing of the bell to draw you into sacred space with God. Take a few deep breaths, breathing in God's love and presence, breathing out any distractions, plans or worries.

Lord, Jesus Christ, teach me to pray.

Prepare yourself for the reading of the scripture by quieting your heart and reminding yourself that God is present here with you.  

Our scripture for today is a praise Psalm.  I invite you to pray this Psalm to God.

Psalm 100

Be joyful in the Lord, all you lands;
serve the Lord with gladness
and come before his presence with a song.  

Know this:  The Lord himself is God;
he himself has made us, and we are his;
we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and call upon his Name.

For the Lord is good;
his mercy is everlasting;
and his faithfulness endures from age to age.  

Sometimes I find it hard to spontaneously burst into praise to God.  I can say the words and truly mean them, but it seems to me that praising God is also a physical and emotional experience.  It is often something that we feel in our bodies.  When we truly experience praise to God our hearts swell with love, awe, and gratitude and our praise bursts forth.  So, when asked to pray this Psalm as a praise to God, it may seem a little forced or perfunctory.  

In preparation for this prayer of praise, I invite you to take a moment to look back over your life.  Think of the ways that God has been with you and the blessings and gifts that God has brought into your life.  Think of the beauty of creation, art or music.  Think of the miracle and wonder of your children or grandchildren.  Think of the spouse or partner who loves and supports you, the family who has loved you.  Think of the hardest times in your life and how some way or another God helped you through it.  And now go back to the Psalm.  Pray it again and see if it feels different this time.  

In many faith cultures, it is common to raise hands up in praise to God.  Consider doing this as we close our prayer time with the praise song that we sing each Sunday, the Doxology.  

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise Him all creatures here below.
Alleluia!  Alleluia!  
Praise God the source of all our gifts.
Praise Jesus Christ whose power uplifts.
Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit.
Alleluia!  Alleluia! Alleluia!

How did praising God feel?  Is it something you tend to do regularly?   Consider writing your own praise prayer to God in your prayer journal.  

Loving God, May my every breath offer praise to you this day. In Jesus' name, Amen.