The Importance of Prayers of Praise and Thanksgiving
A few hundred years ago, we were told to do something in Psalm 150:6. We were told to praise the Lord. “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” Still, back then, praying prayers of praise and thanksgiving were something to be done.
The fact that this was written in the Bible speaks volumes of its importance, and all throughout the Bible there are many examples of people who gave praise to Jesus. As you can see in Scripture, there are people who praised Jesus in midst of heartache, while caught in confusion, whilst fighting depression, during the lowest lows, and the highest highs. No matter the circumstance, we must praise the Lord.
Five Prayers of Praise and Thanksgiving
Naturally, while approaching thanksgiving, we know that it is a time when we tend to spend reflecting and being thankful for what we have and what we have be given. Although we may feel thankful now, it is important to remember that even when the holiday passes, the thankful spirit should stay with us, and we must remember the importance of prayer and thanksgiving. Furthermore, to help with staying in the realm of thankfulness, here are five prayers of praise and thanksgiving to reflect on, during the holiday season and after.
Prayer of Praise for Joy
When we are going through a joyous time, it is easy to praise the Lord, because everything is working out in our favor. But, it is also easy to forget to praise the Lord and thank Him for what He has done for us in that joyous time. For example, in the Bible, there is a prayer for joy that we can hold onto and praise Jesus with, and that is Psalm 100.
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!
Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.”
Prayer of Praise for Peace and Comfort
In the roughest of times and the best of times, Jesus is our comforter and our peace. No matter the situation it is important to remember that we are being held by Jesus and He is our comforter. The verse Psalm 16:8 is a reminder of that comfort and peace Jesus is for us, and we can pray that verse over our life and the lives of others and praise and thank Him.
“I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.”
Prayer of Praise for Blessings and Favor
All around us there are people under the impression that we cannot ask the Lord for things, or that it is wrong to do so, but it is not wrong. As a matter of fact, the Bible states in Philippians 4:6 “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
“The Blessing”
In addition, there is a song, “The Blessing” by Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes, and Elevation Worship that encompasses this idea, and I encourage you to praise the Lord while singing these lyrics about blessings and favor. Here is a snippet of the song that is also a prayer for blessings and favor.
Listen here https://youtu.be/Zp6aygmvzM4
The Lord bless you and keep you
Make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you
The Lord turn His face toward you
And give you peace
The Lord bless you and keep you
Make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you
The Lord turn His face toward you
And give you peace
Amen, amen, amen
Amen, amen, amen
Prayer of Praise for Prosperity
We all hope to be prosperous in our life, that success is an important thing. But sometimes it can feel as though we are not in a prosperous situation, but we must remember that Jesus specifically tells us that he has plans to prosper us, in Jeremiah 29:11. This is a verse that we can pray as a prayer for prosperity.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Prayer of Praise for Direction
Have you felt lost lost and no sense of direction in life? As a matter of fact, those feelings are incredibly common and very uncomfortable. It hurts and it is hard. But, remembering the faithfulness of Jesus and thanking Him for that faithfulness and continuing to praise His name while we wait for direction is something that we need to do. The song “Promises” by Maverick City is a prayer for direction to praise Jesus in the waiting.
Listen here https://youtu.be/q5m09rqOoxE
Faithful through the ages
God of Abraham
You’re the God of covenant
And of faithful promises
Time and time again
You have proven
You’ll do just what You said
Though the storms may come and the winds may blow
I’ll remain steadfast
And let my heart learn, when You speak a word
It will come to pass
Great is Your faithfulness to me
Great is Your faithfulness to me
From the rising sun to the setting same, I will praise Your name
Great is Your faithfulness to me
When the seasons change
You remain the same
God from age to age
Though the earth may pass away
Your word remains the same, yea-eah
Your history can prove
There’s nothing You can’t do You’re faithful and true
Prayer is important, praising Jesus is important, and prayers of praise and thanksgiving are important. May these five prayers of praise and thanksgiving encourage you and help you to praise Jesus in all circumstances.
Read more verses here https://www.abidemag.org/blog-posts/do-you-feel-like-your-faith-is-being-shaken-here-are-5-verses-to-reaffirm-your-faith-in-god
