I always looked forward to returning home from a ministry trip.
My little boys would leap at me with joy the moment I opened the front door.
They would yell excitedly “Daddy, daddy, daddy!”, accompanied with hugs and kisses.
Then they would ask me, “Did you get a present for us?”
I would rummage around in my suitcase, as my boys waited impatiently. The moment I gave them their presents, and before they had even opened them, they would again break out into, “Daddy, daddy, daddy, thank you!” and more hugs and kisses would follow.
I think our Heavenly Father loves it when we come to Him excitedly in praise.
I believe that He wants to meet our needs, and that He feels privileged when we praise and thank Him.
Jesus taught his disciples how to have this very natural father and son or daughter relationship.
He taught them how to communicate (pray) to their Heavenly Father.
Our Father in heaven…
This line starts one of the most familiar and memorized passages of the Bible in Mathew 6.
The Lords Prayer.
Jesus gives us a model of simple and powerful prayer that can help empower us for life.
Start With Praise
In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven . . .
Powerful prayer starts with praise.
Particularly in times of spiritual warfare, praise and worship is cannot be an option.
It is a necessity if we are going to impact this world for God’s kingdom.
Sometimes the tendency of leaders is to “manage” services.
But we shouldn’t be just spectators of praise and worship during services, we should be participants in it.
Raise your hands, lift up your voice, and be worshippers.
This is an incredible way to live!
I start every morning with my hands up praising God.
I don’t go for long, only a few minutes, but I’ve made it a part of my lifestyle.
Even without lifting our hands, or singing a song, we have to get the praise going when we come to prayer.
If I’m in public, I can still praise God powerfully in my heart.
Pray for Your Needs
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one . . .
First we praise, then we pray for our needs.
Jesus’ teaching in this area is simple and powerful.
It’s OK to pray for everything we need for that day.
This is our physical and spiritual needs including protection, provision, and the need to both give and receive forgiveness.
This is living with a clean heart.
Releasing any offence or unforgiveness we might be hanging on to.
It is a daily necessity, and part of living the incredible life God has for us!
Don’t let unforgiveness and bitterness take up any more room in your heart.
Get it out today!
Finish With Praise
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Jesus finishes his prayer by praising God again.
Back to declaring the goodness of God.
He hasn’t seen the breakthrough yet, but he is praising God even before he brings the victory.
When spiritual tough times come, we’ve got to keep going back to God’s word and to praise.
“Praise, prayer, praise!”.
It is a great model for our lives.