Therefore, our lips and our lifestyle should constantly praise God. God rejoices in our praise. We are to begin His worship with praise (Ps. 100:4; Isa. 60:18).
We are to praise Him with our voice (Ps. 34:1), with song (147:1), and with music (150:3). We are to be clothed with praise (Is. 61:3), and our very lives are to be a praise to God (1 Peter 2:9). (Google image, It's All About Him)
What does praise have to do with prevailing prayer? Praise both prepares for prevailing prayer and is itself a holy means of prevailing during our prayer.
1. Praise focuses our hearts on God. Praise lifts our hearts to God in adoration, worship, and love. The most important fact of prevailing prayer is that it is made to God.
To Pray worthily, we must be supremely conscious of God. The problem or need about which we pray may seem overwhelming, but we must see God infinitely greater than our problem, able to meet all our need. Praise focuses our whole being on God.
Hallesby writes,
"When I give thanks, my thoughts still circle about myself,
but in praise my soul ascends to self-forgetting adoration,
seeing and praising only the majesty and power of God,
His grace and redemption." (Hallesby, Prayer, 207)
2. Praise cleanses our hearts of cares, fears, and earth-centered thoughts. We need to enter God's presence and shut the door behind us on the outside world. To prevail effectively we must forget all other duties, activities, involvements, and concerns. Praise pulls the curtain over all extraneous things.
Praise shuts the door on intruding ideas, our normal thought life, and satanic suggestions. It shuts you in with God and his angels.
3. Praise begets and increases faith. The more you praise God, the more you become God-conscious and absorbed in His greatness, wisdom, faithfulness, and love.
Praise reminds you of all that God is able to do and of great things He has already done. Faith comes through God's Word and through praise, Faith grows as you praise the Lord.
Praise gives you the spirit of triumph and overcoming. Praise fires you with holy zeal. It lifts you above the battles to the perspective of God's throne.
Praise cuts the enemy forces down to size. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Rom 8:31),What can man do when God is with you? (Ps. 118:6; Heb. 13:6). God's angel hosts with us are more than all who oppose us (2 Kings 6:16).
August H. Francke, Lutheran minister around 1700 and founder of the orphan homes at Halle, Germany, tells of a time when he needed a large sum of money.
His treasurer came to him for the money. Francke told him to come after lunch, all the while praying earnestly. After lunch the treasurer came again for the money, and Francke asked him to come in the evening.
In the meantime, a friend of Dr. Francke came to see him. The two men prayed together. When Francke began to pray, God led him to recall God's goodness to humankind, going back all the way to creation.
Francke praised God over and over for His goodness and faithfulness over the centuries but felt restrained from mentioning his urgent petition.
When the friend left, Francke accompanied him to the door. There stood the treasurer waiting for the money, and beside him a man who then handed Dr. Francke a very large sum of money that fully met the need. (McIntyre, Hidden Life of Prayer, 91-92).
Used by permission of the author and Duewel Literature Trust, Inc., Greenwood, Indiana (With Jean's impressions added)
Mighty Prevailing Prayer
# The Dynamic of Praise- Part 1
by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
(pp. 167-169) Zondervan
 |
| Praying hands over Bible |
Let's pray-
Father, help us prepare for prevailing prayer by learning to teach our hearts the wisdom of praising You early in our times of prayer.
May we remember that faith comes through Your Word, as well as through praising You for what You've already done for us.
Praise gives us the spirit of triumph and overcoming, and fires us with holy zeal for Christ's Kingdom among us.
May we learn quickly, that by shutting the door and praying in secret, we are better able to stop the intruding thoughts and interruptions that tend to keep us from concentrating on God.
We ask for guidance in this very important venture in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
May we remember that faith comes through Your Word, as well as through praising You for what You've already done for us.
Praise gives us the spirit of triumph and overcoming, and fires us with holy zeal for Christ's Kingdom among us.
May we learn quickly, that by shutting the door and praying in secret, we are better able to stop the intruding thoughts and interruptions that tend to keep us from concentrating on God.
We ask for guidance in this very important venture in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
Today's Bible verses-
(Prov. 26:23 KJV) "The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips."
(Prov. 15:23 KJV)"A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!"
(Ps. 86:12 KJV) "I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore."
(Prov. 26:23 KJV) "The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips."
(Prov. 15:23 KJV)"A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!"
(Ps. 86:12 KJV) "I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore."
David McCasland- "The most difficult situations we face can become door-ways to a deeper relationship with our Lord. This begins when we call on Him to help us in our trouble, and also to lead us each day in His way." (ODB 3/11/17).
Today's popular post-
Today's popular post-
What Do Others See in You?
Gwen Smith: "When I was growing up ours was on the door frame between the kitchen and the hall with red carpet.
A vertical trail of penciled dashes and dates that marked the growth of my siblings and I – that eventually got painted over..."
I invite you to read a couple of verses from my book below...
I invite you to read a couple of verses from my book below...
Upcoming posts-
#98 The Dynamic of Praise- Part 2
16th- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
When Should a Preacher Speak?
18th- Saturday's post by James H. Cagle
#99 Levels of Intensity in Prevailing Prayer- Level 1
23rd- Tuesday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
#100 Level 2 of Prevailing Prayer- Seeking
23rd- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
Jean's blog (Click to see snippets of recent posts)
Below, you have an opportunity to leave a comment.
Or email me at jowildflowers@gmail.com
Below, you have an opportunity to leave a comment.
Or email me at jowildflowers@gmail.com
Samples of Jean's crafts
(Published by Lighthouse Publishing
31-day Devotional
+ Jean's testimony
[Maybe just choose a title each
day that interests you]
+ Jean's testimony
[Maybe just choose a title each
day that interests you]
Sample verses from pp. 52 & 53-
You'll Need to Have
You'll Need to Have
a Private Time
"You'll need to have a private time
To be with God alone.
As you are quiet you will find
The time you'll not bemoan.
In Psalms the prayers help you start
For they'll express your cry.
When you pray them you will take heart
As God's Word you'll apply."
To be with God alone.
As you are quiet you will find
The time you'll not bemoan.
In Psalms the prayers help you start
For they'll express your cry.
When you pray them you will take heart
As God's Word you'll apply."
of the Carolinas. Used by permission).
A great gift for someone who may need help
to prepare for marriage, and for those in a
to prepare for marriage, and for those in a
marriage, wanting some helpful advice.
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