Editor’s Note: This is the first in a four-part part series on how to pray using the elements found in the P.R.A.Y. acronym: P - Praise, R - Repent, A - Ask, Y - Yield.
I have a sweet friend who is the most polite “texter” I know. Whatever the subject of her text, she never fails to begin with “Hello, how are you doing, hope you are having a good day”. Most people I know, including myself, usually just blurt out the question or the comment they want the person on the other end of the text to see. We know that texting was designed to be short and to the point, but if we talked that way to people face to face, it would seem like a rude way to start a conversation. That started me thinking about my prayer conversations with God.
There was a time in my Christian walk that I would start my prayer conversations with the Creator-of-everything by blurting out my list of needs, requests and questions without so much as a “Hello God, thank You for meeting with me today.” As I grew in my spiritual understanding, I began to realize how rude I was being to God the Almighty. From His first introduction of Himself to me, He has helped me understand He wants to be my best Friend. And here I was just bringing Him my “I need and I want” list. I wouldn’t treat an earthly BFF like that!
With more growth and understanding, it became routine for me to start my prayers with gratitude for the wonderful way God cared for me. And now I usually begin my prayers by praising (expressing appreciation of and gratitude for) His name and who He is (the attributes of His character). Sometimes praising Him is the prayer time. After all, He already knows everything I need.
Offering a sacrifice of praise was critical at a very difficult time in my life with the death of my youngest son. I discovered that continuing to trust God and give Him praise, even at a time when I least felt like it, was what I had to do if I was to survive the pain. So that’s what I did from the first day, I kept praising Him for and about everything. And I praise His faithfulness to get me through one of the darkest times in my life, as only He could do. Psalm 34:1 was my guide and I hope it will encourage you to praise God today,
I will praise the LORD at all times.
His praise will always be on my lips.
Meet the author!
Debbie Jourden is a follower of Christ, Mom to Gabe, Mother-in-law to Lisa, and Grandma to Chris and Caleb. She facilitates a ladies Sunday morning Bible Study, a Sunday night small group, and a Celebrate Recovery Friday night small group. Debbie runs two small businesses from home in her power wheelchair. A student of prayer who learned to really pray and trust in grief after the suicide loss of husband and youngest son…she is still learning.