1. Praise

Praise the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, praise His holy name.

— Psalm 103:1

Offering the sacrifice of praise - doing it even when we don’t feel like it - draws us into the presence of the Lord. Praise acknowledges our weakness and God’s sufficiency. Praise makes room in our hearts for God’s will to be done, and takes away any motivations we might have to manipulate God. Praise puts us into a proper frame of mind to approach God. It increases our faith to bring petitions to God. Praise should be central to our prayer life. You might want to try a litany of praise one time and another time have spontaneous offerings of praise concerning aspects of God’s character, being, or works that the Spirit brings to your mind. On another occasion you might want to praise God for the things that His names or attributes bring to mind, both of which help to encourage our faith.

Here is a list of a few of God’s names. As you address God by each name, offer up one to three sentences of the things you appreciate about God that are implied in that name.

• Elohim, the Almighty Creator
• El Elon, The God Most High
• El Roi, The God Who Sees
• El Shaddai, The All-Sufficient One
• Adonai, The Lord
• Jehovah (or Yahweh), The Self-Existent One
• Jehovah Jireh, Yahweh Will Provide
• Jehovah-Rapha, Yahweh Who Heals
• Jehovah-Nissi, Yahweh My Banner
• Jehovah-Mekeddishem, Yahweh Who Sanctifies You
• Jehovah-Shalom, Yahweh is Peace
• Jehovah-Sabaoth, Yahweh of Armies (or Hosts)
• Jehovah-Raah, Yahweh My Shepherd (Psalm 23)
• Jehovah-Tsidkenu, Yahweh our Righteousness
• Jehovah-Shammah, Yahweh is There

(There are many other names of God that can be the foundation for hours of praise and adoration.)

Here is a list of God’s attributes. As you think about the implications of each attribute, it will stimulate many reasons to adore and praise God. During one time of praise you can focus on the implications of one attribute. During another time of praise you can go through each attribute. During another time of praise you can adore God for how one attribute impacts and gives meaning to every other attribute. During another time of praise you can use various attributes to thank and praise God that this makes Him sufficient for all the needs that you will be offering up to Him in a few minutes.

• Aseity¹ - God is self-sufficient (Acts 17:25).
• Goodness (Rom. 11:22)
• Graciousness (Ex. 34:5-6)
• Holiness (Is. 6:3)²
• Immanence – God is close (Acts 17:28)³.
• Immutability – God never changes (James 1:17).
• Impeccability – It is impossible for God to sin (Heb. 6:18).
• Incorporeality – God is spirit (John 4:24).
• Incomprehensibility – God cannot be fully known (Is. 40:28).
• Infinity – Eternity and immensity (Is. 40:28; 1 Kings 8:27).
• Jealousy – He has zeal to protect His love relationship (Ex. 20:5-6).
• Love (1 John 4:16)
• Omnipotence – God is all powerful (Matt 19:26).
• Omnipresence – God is present everywhere (Psalm 139:8).
• Omniscience – God is all knowing (1 Jn 3:20; Rom. 16:27).
• Oneness – monotheism: God is oneness of being (Deut. 6:4; Eph. 4:6).
• Simplicity – God’s unity of singularity⁴ (not composed of parts and pieces); no dualism.
• Sovereignty/Lordship – God alone is fully free and He alone controls and directs all things; nothing can hinder Him from accomplishing His full pleasure (Is. 46:10).
• Transcendence – God is outside of time and space and unable to be controlled or limited by any forces in the universe (1 Kings 8:27). See comments on Immanence. Is. 57:15 brings both together.
• Trinity – God is three in one; three Persons but one God (Matt. 28:19).
• Veracity – God is truthful in all He says (Tit. 1:2) and therefore can be completely trusted (2 Sam. 22:3).
• Wrath – God’s hatred and anger against all that is opposed to His moral character (Ex. 15:7; Deut. 9:19; Ps. 69:24; John 3:36).⁵

Sample Prayer of Praise

To Father

I praise You, Father, that You are the Lord God Almighty.

I praise You for Your perfect plan from eternity past.

I praise You that You are the Great I AM.

I praise You that You are a jealous God, desiring us for Yourself.

God of hosts, I praise You for the hosts of angels at Your command.

Mighty God, I thank You that nothing is too hard for You.

Heavenly Father, I praise You that we can call You Abba Father, and that we can run into the very holy of holies to meet with You.

I praise you that You are the King eternal and that You hold all the nations in Your hands.

I praise You that You are the Father of lights and that in Your light we see light.

You are immortal, invisible, the God who alone is wise.

I praise You for Your infinite being.

I praise You that You are the Judge of the whole earth and that your eyes run to and fro upon the face of all the earth.

I praise You that no one can hold back Your hand or Your predestined purposes for this earth.

I praise You that You preserve us and hold us in the hollow of Your hand.

I praise You that nothing can separate us from Your love, which is in Christ Jesus.

I lift up Your name and bless You.

To Son

I praise You, Jesus, for You have a name above all names.

I praise You, Jesus, because You are Emmanuel, God with us.

I praise You as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

I praise You as the Creator of all and the King of the universe.

I praise You, Jesus, because You are the Lamb of God who takes away my sins. Thank You for Your sacrifice and Your loving atonement.

I praise You that You are the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.

You are the Champion and Shield of Your people.

I praise You for being my Strength and my Song.

You alone are the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and I praise You.

Thank You for being my Shepherd. I praise You for Your tender care.

You are my Strong Tower and I flee to You.

You are my Hiding Place and the Mountain of Refuge.

Bread of Life, I praise You for sustaining me.

I praise You that You are my Fortress and Deliverer, My Victory and Salvation.

In You I find all my Righteousness, Wisdom, and Sanctification.

I praise You that You are the Door to the Father and to Heaven.

Praise be to Your name for Your work as my High Priest.

You are my Joy, my Portion, and my Cup.

I find in You all that I need for Healing and Wholeness.

You are God Most High and I praise You and love You.

I praise You that though You are a fearful Warrior, You are also a tender Bridegroom.

Praise You Jesus, You are all that I need or want.

Praise You Jesus, for You are the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.

Praise You Jesus, for You are worthy of all praise!

To Holy Spirit

I praise You Holy Spirit for being with me.

I praise You that You are the Comforter.

I praise You that You convict the world of sin.

I praise You that You lead Your people into truth, and that You gift and empower us to serve You.

I praise Your holiness, O Spirit, and thank You that You produce holiness in us.

I praise You for Your intercession within us.

I praise You Holy Spirit for being a Spirit of truth and grace and holiness.

Spirit of adoption, make my praises and my prayers be filled with grace. Draw out my heart to the Father to be able to say Abba and find an intimate communion with Him.

Draw my heart out with love to You.

Anoint my lips, fill my mind, take my will.

May every fiber of my being flow in praise to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Praise be to You Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for all that You are and all that You have done.

May not only my lips, but my very being, my thoughts, and my motives all flow in ceaseless praise to You, my God and my Salvation.