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When you incorporate prayers of praise into your daily prayer life it begins to change how you view your struggles and victories. A prayer of praise to God begins to transform our hearts while praying and speaking to Him strengthens our trust and connection with God.
Psalm 100:4 says, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations” (NIV). The more praise we give (regardless of our trials and circumstances), the more our faith is strengthened.
There are several ways to add a prayer of praise to your time spent with God, including:
- Using Scripture to praise Him
- Pondering all the good things He has done in your life
- Turning your heart away from struggles and towards praise and thanksgiving in times of trouble
However you decide to include a prayer of praise, just know that it delights God’s heart when you take time to intentionally seek Him. God is so faithful and wants to spend time with you. So let’s remember all His goodness and pray with thanksgiving.
How Do You Say a Prayer of Praise?
The most important thing to remember while praying to God is to be truthful and intentional. I remember one of the first prayers I said over dinner was, “Thank you for the food we eat, thank you God for everything.” I was so nervous! I didn’t feel comfortable praying out loud and I didn’t want to say the wrong prayer.
Have you ever felt like you didn’t want to say the wrong prayer?
Friend, just talk to God. Praise prayers are a wonderful place to start because there is so much inspiration around us to praise God! One day I was feeling pretty down and didn’t know how I would praise God–it was a very Eeyore type of day. But, He is so worthy of praise that it didn’t take very long for me to come up with something.
When I’m struggling to pray, I typically start my day with a prayer of praise. By starting with God it reminds me throughout the rest of the day how much He deserves all of the praise. Here are some reminders:
- If you’re struggling to see God’s goodness in your situation, turn to Scripture
- Start to thank God for the things He has provided (i.e., breath in your lungs, shelter, sunshine, trees, water, etc.)
- Keep it simple and don’t overcomplicate it!
Remember: God isn’t looking for an eloquent and perfect prayer of praise, He is looking for you to speak to Him from your heart.
Using Scripture for a Prayer of Praise
Whether you’re a beginner or you’re seasoned in praise prayers, Scripture is the ultimate resource when you want to say a prayer of praise to God. There are many locations in the Bible where you can gather inspiration and pray, but I am always drawn to the Book of Psalms. Psalms are always a wonderful choice when looking for a prayer of praise since they’re full of thanksgiving and expressions of awe for God’s glorious works.
Looking in Psalms for Praise Prayers
Here are three of my favorite Psalms to read when I need a reminder of why and how to praise God.
Psalm 150 says, “Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord” (NIV).
What’s great about Psalm 150 is that it can be prayed word-for-word. Pray each line and ponder it in your heart. Letting each phrase sink in helps guide us in recognizing His goodness.
Psalm 67:3-7 is another Scripture that can be prayed straight from the Bible. It says, “May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth. May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us. May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him” (NIV).
You can also create a prayer of praise around a single verse:
“Lord, you rule people with equity and guide the nations on earth. Thank you for being fair and righteous. Lord, thank you for your just and loving nature. You guide me through the valleys and on the mountaintops. Lord, you are worthy of praise. Amen.”
Psalm 91 is a chapter that I have been reading each night before bed and it has brought peace and clarity on God’s faithfulness during tough seasons. Verses 9-13 are a great place to build up a prayer of praise: “If you say, ‘The Lord is my refuge,’ and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent” (NIV).
I love Psalm 91:9 because it tells you what to say! When praying Psalm 91, make it personal and speak directly to God. Rather than saying “you” or “He,” say “I” and “You.”
Example: “Lord, You are my refuge. You are my dwelling place and no harm will overtake me, no disaster will come near my home. Thank you for commanding your angels concerning me to guard me in all my ways. Thank you, Lord, that I will not strike my foot against a stone because Your angels will lift me up in their hands. In Your mighty name Jesus, Amen.
Looking in the Old Testament for Praise Prayers
The Old Testament is the first place we learn about God. From the very beginning in Genesis 1 we see God’s power and goodness. Here are a few prayers of praise based on Scripture in the Old Testament.
In 1 Chronicles 16:34, it says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever” (NIV).
We can praise God for His enduring love:
“Lord, your love endures forever! Thank you for your steadfast and patient love towards me. Lord, thank you that you never leave me or forsake me. Jesus, you are so good and worthy of praise. Amen.”
Isaiah 43:21 reminds us that God has formed us for Himself and that is an amazing reason to praise Him. Friend, you were created on purpose because God loves you!
“Lord, you created me because you wanted to love me. You made me for a purpose and formed me from the earth. Thank you for loving me so much that you simply wanted me to exist. Lord, thank you that you love me enough and just want to spend time with me. Thank you for this great love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Looking in the New Testament for Praise Prayers
We get an up close and personal look into the life of Jesus in the New Testament. Seeing Jesus weep, heal, and fellowship with people throughout the New Testament gives us excellent ways to make a prayer of praise.
Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (NIV). We can focus on Jesus and thank God for Him.
“Lord, thank you for sending your one and only Son Jesus to the cross. Thank you for loving me so much that you gave your Son, who is so valuable there is nothing that can compare. Lord, your love is amazing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Philippians 4:6 has changed my life. Two parts stand out: “Do not be anxious about anything” and “with thanksgiving.” While struggling, I would ask God, “How do I thank you when life is so hard right now?” His answer was, “With thanksgiving.” It took time but I began to focus on thanking and praising Him.
“Lord, you are greater than my circumstances. Thank you that you have not given me a spirit of fear, but the Spirit that comforts me and guides me closer to You. Lord, thank you that hurting isn’t forever and that you have plans that far exceed anything that I can ask or imagine. Jesus, you are the way, the truth, and the life. All good things come from you. Thank you, Lord, that this trial will not, and has not, overtaken me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Example Prayers of Praise
I’ve compiled some prayers of praise for some common and difficult situations. Sometimes we need help getting out of the pit and I hope these short examples give you the boost you need to cry out to God in prayer.
Prayer of Praise when Struggling
Lord, though I feel stuck in this season I want to lift you higher than the mountain that’s in front of me. I thank you because your ways are higher than mine. You have sent the Holy Spirit to guide me and I thank you for always staying beside me in the struggle. Lord, though I may walk through dark valleys, you walk with me. I will keep my eyes on you, Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Prayer of Praise when Upset
Lord, thank you that you know my heart. Thank you that I can simply sit in Your presence. Lord, thank you for telling me that I can be still and rest at Your feet. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Prayer of Praise when Depressed
Lord, Your joy runs through my veins. Your love covers me. Your strength sustains me. You have called me out of the darkness and into the light. Lord, You know me by name. Thank you that I am never alone and that You keep all of Your promises. Thank you for not leaving or forsaking me. Jesus, You are enough. Amen.
Prayer of Praise when Scared
Lord, You have said to be strong and courageous. Thank you that I don’t have to rely on my strength or bravery, but that I can rely on your unending power and love. Your love casts out all fear. Your love is enough. Thank you Lord for your never ending faithfulness and that your light covers me. Thank you, Lord, for guarding my heart and mind. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Prayer of Praise when Grieving
Lord, you provide rest for the weary heart. You are my refuge and my fortress. Thank you for carrying me through this difficult season. Thank you for being my hiding place. Thank you, Lord, that I can turn to You and rest in Your love. Lord, thank you for wiping away my tears. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.
Prayer of Praise when Feeling Disconnected
Lord, You are always near me. Your Words are tangible and true. Thank you for guiding me even when I feel like I can’t find You. Thank you for seeking me like You do a lost sheep. Lord, I thank You for not leaving me to try and find You myself. Thank you, Lord, that Your timing is perfect. I love you, Jesus. Amen.
Prayer of Praise when Doubting
Lord, Your thoughts and Your ways are higher than mine. You are the author from the beginning to the end. Lord, You wrote my story before the earth was formed. You knew me Lord before I was conceived in my mother’s womb. Thank you for knowing the things that I don’t know. Amen.
Final Tidbits
While a prayer of praise may not change the circumstances around us, it can alter how we go through the trials because it causes us to keep our eyes on God. Let’s lift God up and do what 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says and “give thanks in all circumstances” (NIV) because this is God’s will for our lives through Jesus.