People have asked me what I do during my praise time. So, I thought today I’d blog about that. Early in the morning, coffee in hand, I get down on my knees in my home office. I turn on my I-pad and go to my worship play list. I put in my headphones to block out any distractions. As I listen, I can feel my spirit being drawn to praise God. I ask the Holy Spirit to bring my will into perfect union with HIs as I am praising Jesus.
Using music as part of our worship was God’s idea.In the book of Deuteronomy, God instructs Moses near the end of HIs life to “write down the word this song and teach it to the people.” (Deuteronomy 30:19) Music softens our hearts and stirs our spirits to praise the One we were designed to praise. In The 30 Day Praise Challenge coming out this summer, each of the 30 days have a focus for your praise time. In addition, each day also gives suggested music from various bands to help you in your praise journey. Some of the artists and bands included in the book are; Gungor, Natalie Grant, Christy Nockles, Mandissa, Kari Jobe, Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin, Hillsong United and many others. My dream for the praise challenge book is that there will be a ground swell of praise that rises up and ripples around the world!
I’d love to hear from you. How and where do you praise God best? What have you found most helpful in terms of keeping an attitude of praise all day?
Leave a comment. Tomorrow, I’ll draw a name and the winner will receive a book and a Starbucks gift card!
13 Responses
Dina Bastanzi
I love praise!
Our Pastor taught us this acronym for prayer time. He calls it A.C.T.S. The first letter is adoration – pouring praise on to Him who is most worthy. I do this the song as well. Usually, it’s in my car on the way to work. During preparation for worship on Sunday morning (I’m a worship leader), I sing the Psalms and pray my songs (opposite). It definitely helps to center your heart around His word.
If I may, I’d recommend Audrey Assad for an artist to worship with. She is amazing,and actually wrote a few of the songs that Christy Nockels (who is incredible! ) sings. Just my two cents, but it might be worth more to you 🙂
Great post! I’m a new reader and excited to know more. Lisa Williams sent me 🙂
admin
Thanks, Dina! I love that you recommended Audrey! Thanks so much!
Sally Warner
I love Audrey Assad too. She definitely has a heart for music and prayer. She is working on a new project (and quickly reached full funding at this site), specifically music for prayer.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/56618327/audrey-assads-first-indie-record
Sally Warner
I frequently use the hymn “Be Thou My Vision” as prayer during my time with God because it expresses the deep desire of my heart so well. I have been using it for years, sometimes singing it out loud and other times not.
Another thing God has led me to do is to sing hymns as a prayer/praise over people I am praying for. In this way I try to praise God for the very truth about Him they need the most in their situation. I started this because Zephaniah 3:17 says that God sings over us and God asked me to join Him. It doesn’t matter if the people I am praying for can’t hear me singing for them – God sings over me and I can’t hear that either – though I often wonder if God would in some miraculous way enable the lonely persecuted Christian alone in a cell somewhere around the world to hear me singing over them.
Becky Harling
I love the idea of singing over people Sally! What a beautiful picture!
Erica Entner
My favorite way to praise and worship God is by singing and nothing ministers to my heart more than hearing the songs of wonderful writers and singers. Some of my favorites are Mandisa, Chris Tomlin, Lincoln Brewster, Gaither Vocal Band, Hillsong, The Vertical Church Group (they were at our church a few months ago), and many more.
Laura Downie
I like to praise, to music, while driving. Sometimes I lift up a hand and the other drivers probably think I’m crazy! 🙂
admin
Love this Laura, Sometimes I’m drumming on the steering wheel and other drivers look at me like I’m nuts! It’s all good!!
Anita
There is something special about worshipping in your own home, doing ordinary tasks. I hear my toddler joining in, and it reminds me my ordinary tasks are to glorify an extraordinary God in all I do (and prayerfully my child will follow that path all of his life.)
admin
I absolutely agree! There is something so precious about praising in your own home and I love that your toddler joins in!!~
Kristen
I find that I praise God best by getting purposely lost in the park near me.. I dance, run, and continually look for signs of his love. I see the number 1 alot, especially 1:11 or 11:11 so when I see it I am reminded that the creator of the universe is thinking about me at that moment and is pleased with me. I am his daughter.
Erica Corbett
I like to worship God in a variety of ways! Sometimes I play Chris Tomlin, Jesus Culture, and others but I find that when I just sing to God my own lyrics I seem to draw closer to Him! Sometimes I sing praises to Him but a lot of the times it seems I sing out of the rawness of emotions and desperation of realizing the need for His truth in my life! It may not be the kind of songs you would buy at the store but I feel God smiles when I sing Him my own words from the depths of my soul, words that feel true! I find that I can worship God through my pain and its healing and of course I would do this when I am alone with Just me and Him!
Natalie Wilson
I like to praise in the car. Sometimes while doing the dishes I like to turn everything else off and put in my iPod. I would like to develop a more consistent time. But it usually seems I do better just praising in the moment. I should update my iPod. But I love some music that I listened to during the darkest time of my life. Amy Grant’s Legacy Hymns and Faith and Katina’s Lifestyle: A Worship Experience