Why is it important to start prayers with praise, as seen in Psalm 146:1? Setting the Scene: Psalm 146:1 “Hallelujah! Praise the LORD, O my soul.” Why Praise Comes First • The very first word of the psalm is “Hallelujah,” setting the pattern that approaching God begins with adoration, not requests. • Praise fixes our attention on who God is before we speak of what we need. Praise Aligns Our Hearts with God • Psalm 100:4 – “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.” We step into His presence on the path of gratitude. • Matthew 6:9 – Jesus teaches, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.” Even the Lord’s Prayer opens with reverence, not petition. • When our first words magnify Him, our hearts are warmed to His will and softened to receive His guidance. Praise Declares God’s Supremacy • Psalm 146 continues (v.6) by rehearsing God as “the Maker of heaven and earth.” Praise reminds us that the One we address is sovereign, able, and faithful. • Isaiah 6:1-3 shows heavenly beings crying, “Holy, holy, holy,” before anything else is said. Earth merely echoes heaven’s constant chorus. • We declare, by faith, that no problem looms larger than the Lord we exalt. Praise Renews Faith and Hope • Psalm 146:5 – “Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God.” Recounting God’s character stirs confidence that He will act again. • Acts 4:24 – The early church, facing threats, first “raised their voices together to God and said, ‘Sovereign Lord…’ ” Praise fueled boldness for their petitions. Praise Guards Against Self-Centeredness • Philippians 4:6 – “Do not be anxious… but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests.” Thanksgiving redirects us from anxiety to assurance. • Gratitude dethrones the self. We shift from “my agenda” to “Your kingdom come.” Practical Ways to Begin with Praise • Read a psalm aloud—let Scripture give you words. • Sing or hum a worship chorus that exalts God’s attributes. • Speak a short list of His recent mercies—“You provided… You healed… You guided…” • Use the alphabet: “A—You are Almighty, B—You are Blessed Redeemer…” • Pause after each phrase, letting truth settle before continuing. Closing Encouragement Starting prayer with praise is more than courtesy; it is obedience, alignment, and lifeline. When “Hallelujah” leads, faith follows, and the rest of our conversation with God flows in the right direction. |
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