Wednesday - Pray Like This
Welcome to daily prayer. This week we are focusing on the first priority and petition that Jesus taught us to pray: “Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” We are asking that our Father would reveal his glory so that all people would honor and esteem him as the true and living God.
There is no one like our Father. He is worthy of all the praise and today we join with Psalm 113 in praising and honoring his name.
As we begin our time together, let’s remember that God is here and quiet our hearts and minds before the Lord.
O Lord, open my lips and my mouth will declare your praise.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Spirit
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.
Lord, your name is worthy of praise from the rising of the sun to its setting. You are exalted over the nations, holy and without rival or equal.
You are great and do wonderful things. You alone are God.
A Scripture Reading from Psalm 113:1–9:
"Praise the LORD!
Praise, O servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD!
2
Blessed be the name of the LORD
from this time forth and forevermore!
3
From the rising of the sun to its setting,
the name of the LORD is to be praised!
4
The LORD is high above all nations,
and his glory above the heavens!
5
Who is like the LORD our God,
who is seated on high,
6
who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?
7
He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
8
to make them sit with princes,
with the princes of his people.
9
He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the LORD!"
A Time to Rejoice in the Lord:
Father, there is no one like you! You sit enthroned on high, yet you stoop down to meet us in our needs.
I rejoice that you raise the poor from the dust. You turn barren places into life and joy.
I adore you as a God of compassion and grace.
Hallowed be your name.
Praise the name of the Lord.
I rejoice in the reality that the One True God who is high and lifted up cares about the small details of my life. Father, I rejoice that you have included me as part of your story.
A Time to Acknowledge our Needs and Ask God for help:
Father, give us a fresh revelation of your majesty and kindness.
I acknowledge that there is no one like you but I have not made it my aim to make your glory known.
I have made you too small in my eyes. Forgive me.
Help us to see you rightly.
Protect us from pride and stir within us praise that is due your name.
We ask that you would help us to demolish every idea in our minds that sets itself up against the true knowledge of you.
Deliver us from evil. Help us to carry the wonder of your great Name into every place. Lord, wherever I am poor, needy, or barren today, I ask for your healing and life.
May we, as your body be your hands and feet to all those who are broken and in need around us.
We worship you for the way that you restore dignity and we ask that you would use us to be those that restore dignity today. Cultivate in us compassion and may signs and wonders of your goodness be done in the name of Jesus.
May your name be honored in our hearts, with our hands, and in every place.
As we hear this psalm again, listen for what the Holy Spirit is saying to us today:
"Praise the LORD!
Praise, O servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD!
2
Blessed be the name of the LORD
from this time forth and forevermore!
3
From the rising of the sun to its setting,
the name of the LORD is to be praised!
4
The LORD is high above all nations,
and his glory above the heavens!
5
Who is like the LORD our God,
who is seated on high,
6
who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?
7
He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
8
to make them sit with princes,
with the princes of his people.
9
He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the LORD!"
pause and reflect
Yield and Say Yes:
Yes Lord. I say yes to living a life of praise. May all we say and do bring honor and glory to you.
From this time forth and for the rest of our lives, may your praise always be on our lips. Always be from our hearts. May we always see how things really are and may we, as a result have gratitude in our hearts for you.
Lord, fill us with your love. Help us to love you and to love and see others the way you do. Give us grace and courage to do what you say for the glory of your Name.
Let’s close by praying the Lord’s Prayer:
"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen."
*Special thanks to 24/7 Prayer and Lectio 365 for the P.R.A.Y. outline.