Prayer as An Act of Worship
A heart's declaration of love, adoration, and worship
Our heart's declaration of love, adoration, and worship in prayer is fundamental to a living, breathing, intimate relationship with God. Singing and praise may prepare our hearts, but it is what is in our hearts that God is most interested in, and it is through prayer that we conduct our most important conversations, including our worship.
The Bible is clear in its call to prayer, including:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6, and
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
As believers, we understand the importance of prayer. I suspect, however, that we most often think of it as a one-way conversation centered on our own needs, desires, and intercessions. It is so much more, however, including an opportunity to worship God in wonder and adoration.
Separating ourselves for the sole purpose of proclaiming our love and devotion to God creates an atmosphere of desire for intimacy with Him, which in turn creates a hunger and thirst to lift Him up, to pour out what is in our heart, and to hear what is in His heart. Madame Jeanne Guyon1 2 had a simple instruction on this:
"There is only one requirement that you must follow at all times [in prayer]. This simple requirement is you must learn to pray from your heart and not your head."
One way to pray from the heart is to express what you hold in your heart about God. This is not a formula but rather a living prayer in which you tell God how you feel about Him and what you perceive about His character. It might go something like this:
Father God, I come into your presence through the cleansing blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ. I come before You to worship You because my heart beats for You, to know the desires of Your heart so they may be my own desires, and to know Your path so that it may be mine as well. Everything I do, Father, I want it to be for Your glory, to honor, serve, and worship You. Your love is why I am here, your mercy is how I am whole, and your grace is my provision. Thank You, Father.
I love You because you are not of this world. You are different and show me that I can be different as well. I am humble before You. When I think of who and what You are, I am amazed and thrilled. You are holy and righteous, strong and pure, perfect and beautiful. Your love, compassion, and passion are wondrous. Your judgment and justice are perfect. Your might is untouchable, Your grace the salve to every wound.
You are Truth, Honor, and Purity. You are … Perfection. Your Knowledge and Wisdom are above all others, Your Understanding deeper, and Your Counsel is true and straight, we need no other. Your Might is unapproachable, and the Fear of Your Name is the light that shows the way. Give me the strength, Father, to stay in the Light.
I love you, Father, and I lift Your Name above every other name. I worship You as my God who loves me simply because I am yours. I exalt Your Name in praise, worship, and wonder. There is no other. Your glory shines and, in those finest of moments, I hear the trumpets sound Your presence. Glory to You, oh God, Glory!
You provide everything in my life, including this ability and entrance into Your Presence. You are the God of all creation, yet here You are, communing with me. Thank You, Father, for Your love.
I worship You, praise You, I declare Your Name. Take what is inside of me and change it to magnify Your Name, that You will be praised. I give you all glory and praise, all power and honor. I bless You.
I am humble before You. I bow in reverence seeking only Your heart, Your face, Your presence. Not just in this moment but forever and always, never ceasing. Let my heart's desire for You be incense on Your altar.
I love You; my heart wants to know what is in Your heart, and my feet long to walk in Your steps. Show me the way, Father, so that I may honor You with my life. All I desire is to please you.
I am Yours, Father, and I am listening for Your heart to speak.
Amen
Your relationship with God is different and what comes from your heart in prayer will be different. As A.W. Tozer said, "True prayer cannot be imitated nor can it be learned from someone else." Prayer, like the rest of our relationship with God, is personal. It does not just happen, it requires desire, intent, and application. The importance and effort we devote to it opens the door, ushering us into God's very throne room and it is there, before Him, that we conduct this sacred discipline without which our lives, purpose, and relationship are incomplete.
When our adoration is complete it is time to listen for God's voice. It may come in a voice we recognize as His, as a feeling in our heart, or as a knowing in our spirit. However it is that God speaks to you, make sure you have opened the doorway with your praise and worship, and that you are listening. Ask yourself ...
What is God saying to me today?
Shalom