Prayer and worship

Worship is a fundamental requirement of life

All nations are exhorted to worship God

1 Chronicles 16:28–29 NKJV

Give to the Lord, O families of the peoples, Give to the Lord glory and strength. Give to the Lord the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!

See also Ps 29:1–2; Ps 96:9

Israel is commanded to worship God

2 Kings 17:36 NKJV

but the Lord, who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm, Him you shall fear, Him you shall worship, and to Him you shall offer sacrifice.

See also Ps 95:6–7; Ps 99:4–5

Right attitudes in worship are imperative

Reverence and humility characterise acceptable worship

Hebrews 12:28–29 NKJV

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.

See also Ps 5:7; Ps 95:6; Ps 138:2; Ec 5:1

Honesty, without hypocrisy, characterises acceptable worship

Amos 5:21–24 NKJV

“I hate, I despise your feast days, And I do not savor your sacred assemblies. Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, Nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs, For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream.

See also Mt 15:7–9; Is 29:13; Lk 18:9–14; Jn 4:24

Prayer can focus on different aspects of God’s character

Prayer can focus on God’s holiness

Exodus 15:11 NKJV

“Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?

See also Ps 77:13; Ps 96:9; Ps 99:5

Prayer can focus on God’s glory

Psalm 19:1–6 NKJV

The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoices like a strong man to run its race. Its rising is from one end of heaven, And its circuit to the other end; And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

See also Ps 29:1–2; Ps 138:5; Ro 16:27; Php 4:20; Jud 25

Prayer can focus on God’s majesty

Psalm 104:1–4 NKJV

Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great: You are clothed with honor and majesty, Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain. He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters, Who makes the clouds His chariot, Who walks on the wings of the wind, Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.

See also Ps 8:1; Ps 76:4; Ps 96:4–6

Prayer can focus on God’s kingship

Psalm 97:1 NKJV

The Lord reigns; Let the earth rejoice; Let the multitude of isles be glad!

See also Ps 9:7; Ps 22:3; Ps 93:1; Ps 95:3; Ps 102:12

Prayer can focus on God’s love and compassion

Psalm 103:1–18 NKJV

Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord executes righteousness And justice for all who are oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children, To such as keep His covenant, And to those who remember His commandments to do them.

See also Ps 111:4; Ps 118:1–4; Ps 145:17–20

Prayer can focus on God’s justice and righteousness

Psalm 97:2 NKJV

Clouds and darkness surround Him; Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.

See also Ps 7:17; Ps 9:8; Ps 97:6; Ps 111:3

Prayer can focus on God’s creative activity

Nehemiah 9:6 NKJV

You alone are the Lord; You have made heaven, The heaven of heavens, with all their host, The earth and everything on it, The seas and all that is in them, And You preserve them all. The host of heaven worships You.

See also Ps 90:2; Ps 95:3–7; Ps 102:25–27; Ps 104:5–9; Ps 104:24–26