Prayer & Praise Mode

Scripture -  Psalm 3:3 HCSB - But You, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts up my head.

You ever just feel like crying? I mean like not for any particular reason?? Nothing has happened but you just get the urge to burst into tears. You might describe the feeling as having a ‘heavy heart’ or being in a ‘funk’. Whenever we have moments like these, we can go into Prayer & Praise mode.

Prayer is an awesome privilege! We can talk to God whenever, wherever, however, we need to; He is always accessible. We don’t need an appointment and we can talk to Him about anything, even in times of uncertainty … especially in times of uncertainty! And as we pray, He listens and as He speaks to us, we should listen; communication goes both ways! He may not reveal the reason for our heaviness, but He knows exactly how to draw us closer to Him. Sometimes He uses this time to prepare us and equip us for what lies ahead.

Praise has been described as “the expression of approval or admiration for someone or something." Yep, that about sums it up, wouldn’t you say?? When we praise God we express to Him how much we adore Him! We thank Him for what He has done/is doing/will do in our lives! Praising God lifts our spirits, changes our hearts and our thoughts, and it shifts the focus from us to Him! If we just start thanking Him, we wouldn’t have time to dwell on the heaviness we feel or what may/may not be going right in our lives. An attitude of gratitude will put you in a place of gratefulness … and that’s a great place to be!

After a time of prayer and praise, we will notice that heaviness, that ‘funk’, that moment has passed. If it hasn’t, then pray and praise some more! God wants to hear from us; He inhabits (lives in, dwells in) the praise of His people!

Prayer: Father, You are so awesome! You see us at our worst and yet You still want to have a relationship with us! Sometimes, You allow our hearts and spirits to ‘feel’ heavy but help us to trust You; help us to know that there is (Your) purpose in our pain! Thank you for the gifts of prayer and praise! Thank You that we have direct access to Your throne! Thank You for enabling us to be in a position to pray and praise! Thank You for being our Shield around us, our glory, the One who lifts our heads! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! In Jesus’ Name we always pray … Amen!

(by Cassaundra Jackson)