Prayer, and worship

Worship is turning to God in awe, praise and joy, as his people realise how wonderful he is. Prayer is a natural part of worship: to know God is to want to worship him and pray to him.

Worship is a fundamental requirement of life

All nations are exhorted to worship God

1 Chronicles 16:28–29 See also Psalm 29:1–2, Psalm 96:9

Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering and come before Him. Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness;

Israel is commanded to worship God

2 Kings 17:36 See also Psalm 95:6–7, Psalm 99:4–5

Instead, worship the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm. You are to bow down to Him and offer sacrifices to Him.

Right attitudes in worship are imperative

Reverence and humility characterise acceptable worship

Hebrews 12:28–29 See also Psalm 5:7, Psalm 95:6, Psalm 138:2; Ecclesiastes 5:1

Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. “For our God is a consuming fire.”

Honesty, without hypocrisy, characterises acceptable worship

Amos 5:21–24 See also Matthew 15:7–9 parallel Mark 7:6–7; Isaiah 29:13; Luke 18:9–14; John 4:24

“I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer Me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; for your peace offerings of fattened cattle I will have no regard. Take away from Me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

Prayer can focus on different aspects of God's character

Prayer can focus on God's holiness

Exodus 15:11 See also Psalm 77:13, Psalm 96:9, Psalm 99:5

Who among the gods is like You, O LORD? Who is like You — majestic in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders?

Prayer can focus on God's glory

Psalm 19:1–6 See also Psalm 29:1–2, Psalm 138:5; Romans 16:27; Philippians 4:20; Jude 1:25

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. Without speech or language, without a sound to be heard, their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens He has pitched a tent for the sun. Like a bridegroom emerging from his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course, it rises at one end of the heavens and runs its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.

Prayer can focus on God's majesty

Psalm 104:1–4 See also Psalm 8:1, Psalm 76:4, Psalm 96:4–6

Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty. He wraps Himself in light as with a garment; He stretches out the heavens like a tent, laying the beams of His chambers in the waters above, making the clouds His chariot, walking on the wings of the wind. He makes the winds His messengers, flames of fire His servants.

Prayer can focus on God's kingship

Psalm 97:1 See also Psalm 9:7, Psalm 22:3, Psalm 93:1, Psalm 95:3, Psalm 102:12

The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the distant shores be glad.

Prayer can focus on God's love and compassion

Psalm 103:1–18 See also Psalm 111:4, Psalm 118:1–4, Psalm 145:17–20

Prayer can focus on God's justice and righteousness

Psalm 97:2 See also Psalm 7:17, Psalm 9:8, Psalm 97:6, Psalm 111:3

Clouds and darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are His throne’s foundation.

Prayer can focus on God's creative activity

Nehemiah 9:6 See also Psalm 90:2, Psalm 95:3–7, Psalm 102:25–27, Psalm 104:5–9, Psalm 104:24–26

You alone are the LORD. You created the heavens, the highest heavens with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all things, and the host of heaven worships You.