If we make use of prayer, not to wrest from God advantages for ourselves or our dear ones, or to escape from tribulations and difficulties, but to call down upon ourselves and others those things which will glorify the name of God, then we shall see the strongest and boldest promises of the Bible about prayer fulfilled also in our weak, little prayer life.
O. Hallesby
Begin with Adoration
This week we are going to reach back to part of a hymn first published in 1695 by Anglican Bishop Thomas Ken. These four lines are some of the most treasured and sung in the history of the Church. We know it as the Doxology.
We want to encourage you to read, and sing—yes, sing—the Doxology as your prayer of adoration! You may want to sing it a few times. If you would like, sing along by clicking the play button below. Praise God…for all His blessings.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.The Doxology, by Thomas Ken
Continue with Confession
This week, let’s allow sections of David’s Psalm 32 guide us in confession…
Psalm 32
How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered!
2 How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit!3 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away
Through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah.
5 I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I did not hide;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”;
And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones;
And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.
As the Spirit brings any sin to mind, confess it as sin and turn from it (repent). Thank God that He forgives our sin and cleanses us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
Now offer words of Thanksgiving
Begin by adding one or two more things to your list of things you are thankful for looking back on the past year…
With them were Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest who were chosen, who were designated by name, to give thanks to the Lord, because His lovingkindness is everlasting.
1 Chronicles 16:41
There were those in the Old Testament whose job description read, “Give thanks to God!” That’s how important thanksgiving was to the people of God, and it remains so today. It is the one part—an important part—of the privileges and responsibilities we have as God’s children. Let these thoughts continue to inform and shape your giving of thanks today.
Conclude with Supplication & Intercession…
Let’s continue to begin our times of supplication and intercession by praying for those we know, who do not yet know Christ.
…but to call down upon ourselves and others those things which will glorify the name of God…
O. Hallesby
As you pray for yourself and others today, run those things through this grid:
—Will this bring glory to God?
—Will this make God’s name known?
—Will this show others the manifold grace of God?
