Sing Praises

February 08, 2021

“Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.” - Psalm 147:1

How do you worship? Do you delight in giving praise and thanks to God? There are many songs of praise and thanksgiving in the Bible. They serve as an example of those who delight in trusting God, but they also give us a format for how to offer worship and prayer today. The Psalms allow us to tap into and name the emotions we may be feeling towards our Savior.

In Romans 8:26, Paul writes that “we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” There are times in our lives when the only form of speech we can offer to the Lord is lament. On the other hand, there are moments of our lives that we are so full of praise and gratitude to the Lord that our lips cannot help but gush affection. Resonating with the words of the psalmists can be a great help in both of these instances.

In this verse from Psalm 147, we see praise being offered up to the God of the brokenhearted. During a time of nationwide distress and lament in Israel, the singer was still able to worship the Lord through praise and thanksgiving. He had hope that God would restore Israel. This is a good starting point for those struggling to find the words to pray in today’s difficult moments. When you are wordless and desire the intercessory prayer of the Spirit, do not neglect the prayers found in Psalms. They may help identify the joy, grief, or searching of your heart, enabling you to join into the communication of the Spirit.

Reflection:
Do you use the Psalms as a tool in your prayer life? How can you begin the habit of praying words of Scripture?