Archives for January 2024

Our Heavenly Father delights in worship and praise. The Bible in Psalms 22:3 says that He inhabits the praises of His people. Praise and worship is more than a song or a music session in church. Worship for the Most High God must overflow naturally from our hearts. Developing a heart of worship and praise is not about choosing the right words but about the essence of our connection with God.

Listed below are some of the key aspects that can guide us in cultivating a heart of praise and worship.

Your Worship Must Be Done in Spirit and Truth

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” – John 4:23 (NIV)

Authentic worship springs from a sincere heart that aligns with the truth of God’s Word. It is not a performance but a conversation where we acknowledge God for who He is. Worship in spirit calls us to engage our innermost being. These are not just words that we want to say but words that come from the deepest parts of our hearts. It is more than lip service; it is not how loud we say it but how genuine it is.

Praise and worship must be done with a heart that is open to truth. Therefore, to develop a heart of praise and worship, you need to read the Word of God and let its truth take root in your heart. By reading God’s Word, you will learn a lot about His nature and character, and you can praise and worship Him from your understanding of the Word.  

Worship with a Broken Spirit

Worshipping God with a broken spirit is acknowledging God’s sovereignty and our dependence on Him.

“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” – John 4:23 (NIV)

A broken spirit is not only fit for worship but is also a sacrifice to the Lord. As we bring our broken pieces to God, our hearts overflow with praise, thanksgiving and worship for everything that He does for us.

Be Humble

Humility in worship is an acknowledgment that we stand in awe of a God who is far greater than our understanding. When we go before the Lord with humble hearts, we acknowledge that we surrender to His will. Humility teaches us to align our desires with God’s will. When we open our hearts and our lips to Him in humility, He reigns in every word that we say.  

Seek the Leading of the Holy Spirit

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes” – Romans 8:26 (NIV)

The Holy Spirit not only intercedes for us but also leads us into the depth of praise and worship. He cuts off our ordinary words from our hearts and inserts words that glorify God. Even when we run out of words during praise and worship, He helps us out and ensures that our praises flow with grace.

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.” – Luke 4:8

There is a lot of power in daily prayer, and great things happen in our lives when we pray every day. In His teachings, Jesus always reminded His disciples and everyone else to make prayer a regular part of their lives. He taught them not only how to pray but also encouraged them to pray without ceasing. With prayer we can communicate with God, it is so powerful that it can shift atmospheres. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, we are instructed to pray without ceasing, through every situation good or bad pray always and never stop. This means that every time is a time to pray. Whenever we get the time or an opportunity to pray even as we carry out our daily responsibilities, we can always lift up our voices to God.

Let’s learn important things about the impact of prayer in our daily existence.

Prayer Helps Us Find Direction

In life, we sometimes find ourselves feeling lost and confused about which way to take or which decision to make. Our minds grow anxious and uncertain of the things around us. The more we try to figure out things, the more we feel out of track. In such moments, we can only find direction through prayer.

Consider the story of Moses and the Israelites in the desert. They lost direction and focus many times, and at some point, the Israelites even wished they had not left Egypt. But then, Moses went to the Mountain and prayed to God. And God, in His faithfulness, always showed up and guided them. In Psalms 32:8, God promises that He will instruct and teach us in the way we should go. However, this can only happen when we devote ourselves to prayer.

Prayer Breaks Down Strongholds, Principalities, and All Forces of Evil

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.” – Acts 16:25-26 (NIV)

When Paul and Silas were arrested and put in prison, they trusted in the power of prayer. They were aware of what prayer could do in their lives. As they prayed, prison doors miraculously opened and chains broke loose. This is what happens in your life when you cultivate a regular prayer pattern. You will overcome the power of the enemy and receive deliverance from all forms of bondage.

Prayer Empowers You to Overcome Temptations

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” – Matthew 26:41 (NIV)

Prayer grants us the strength, wisdom, discernment and grace to overcome the traps that the devil uses to lead us to a path of sin. We can learn from the example of Jesus in the wilderness. The power in the 40-day prayer and fasting empowered Him to overcome Satan’s deceptions.

Prayer Brings Favor, Blessings, and Breakthroughs

We all know about Hannah, a woman who prayed until her voice could not be heard anymore. Her dedication and persistence in prayer bore fruit in the end. God blessed her with a son; a miracle she had longed for many years. When we pray, the power in our prayers unlocks God’s blessings and favor. In Mark 11:24, we are told that when we pray in faith, we receive our heart desires.

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. – Mark 11:24

Let us all embrace prayer as a daily discipline for it carries power in itself. It has the power to shape our lives, prevent us from sinning, align our ways with God’s will and attract God’s blessings.