The Priority Of Praise

You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.

Psalm 22:3

When individuals find themselves at a loss for words, they fall back on tried-and-true excuses: “I’m just not the verbal type”; “I prefer to let my actions speak for me”; “I was never very good with words”; “I’m just not very creative.” We even use those reasons when it comes to knowing how to fill our prayer time with God.

Sometimes we settle in for a time of prayer thinking we have so much to talk to God about—yet find ourselves saying, “In Jesus’ name, Amen,” after only three minutes. How, we wonder, do prayer warriors pray for ten minutes, thirty minutes, an hour—or even half a day? The answer is simple and biblical: by making praise the central part of prayer. Think about it: How long could you spend praising an infinite and eternal God for who He is and what He has done? You could praise Him for hours by mentioning just the things that have touched you personally. Think of all that God has done for you in the personal, spiritual, financial, emotional, and other areas of your life. In addition to what He has done, He is worthy of praise for who He is.

The next time you find yourself on your knees in prayer, make praise your priority. You may find yourself having to budget more time for talking with God instead of less.

The best atmosphere for prayer is praise.

PETER ANDERSON