Praise
So far this week we've looked at the Psalms and Paul for guidance in how to praise God in prayer. Today let's look to John's Revelation to see how he saw praise of God in heaven.
Pray these prayers of praise as if they were your own words.
Revelation 4:8–11
8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “ ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.” 9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
Revelation 5:9–14
9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” 14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Revelation 7:9–12
9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”
Kingdom Plea
Thank him for your salvation.
Thank him that you know his will.
Thank him that he is transforming you by the renewing of your mind so that you might know what his will is.
Thank him for Scripture which reveals his will.
Thank him for Jesus who revealed God, propitiated the wrath of God, atoned for your sins.
Thank God for choosing you to be a part of his people.
Thank him for those whom you know who believe in Jesus.
Pray for those who do not believe in Jesus. Pray for the Spirit to reveal the truth of Jesus to them.
Personal Plea
Today, we are going to pray for our spiritual needs. You may feel disconnected from God. Pray for a renewed sense of his presence with you. Pray for the Father to give you a greater awareness of the Holy Spirit with you. Remember, God loves to give his children his Spirit (Luke 11:13).
Pray for the Spirit to continue producing fruit in you: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Pray for the Spirit to convict you of sin.
Pray for the Spirit to confirm that you are indeed in Christ.
Pray for the Spirit to equip you for ministry.
Pray for the Spirit to empower you to live in the way of Jesus.
Repentance
Think of the sins that God has forgiven you of throughout your life. Yesterday we repented of specific sins, today we are taking a broad inventory of the vast number of sins of which God has forgiven us. Consider the magnitude of God's mercy towards you.
1 Timothy 1:15–16
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.
See also the parable of the unmerciful servant in Matthew 18:21-35.
Spiritual Protection
Thank the Father that he will protect your salvation in Christ.
Thank him that nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ
Romans 8:37–39
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Thank Jesus that he will never cast you out.
John 6:37
37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.