Text: Psalm 8
Do you wake up praying? Giving thanks and praising Him for who He is and what He’s done?
I admit, it’s not my first conscious action. Generally, I wake with a grumble at the sounding alarm, not a prayer (except maybe for it to stop). I drag myself from the warm covers, make a promise to myself that tonight I’ll take my makeup off before bed and stumble to the kitchen to start the coffee and pull open the blinds.
And at that moment, most mornings, I gasp.
The sky is perfectly painted in layers of icy blue, pale yellow and fiery pink leading to a burst of orange. The sunrise.
He’s gifted this intentional reminder of “glory in the heavens.” This evident, majestic work of His hands.
And despite my weariness, my to-do list, my need for coffee and obvious need for grooming, I forget myself completely. It all becomes about Him. In an instant, my gasp becomes a prayer—a prayer praising His greatness.
Psalm 8 is David’s gasp at God’s majesty, though it’s far more eloquent than my smeary mascara-eyed admiring.
Yet, this is what I long for my first prayer of every day to be – a prayer of praise:
For His perfect creation (Psalm 8:3, NIV), seen in a sunrise that a million painters could never come close to replicating.
For His unfathomable love for each and every one of us (v.4, NIV), despite our grumbles and sinful ways.
For the dominion over all His creation, given to us in the garden and restored in Christ (v. 5-8, NIV), the undeserved redemption we find in His son.
Nothing could be more praiseworthy.
These prayers are not expectant, not tinged with our own self-interest, or a laundry list of problems we want rectified. These are prayers of pure praise, thanksgiving and adoration that our Father receives so gratefully, like the crayon-scrawled thank you note we get from a child. He’ll take our gift and cherish it anytime, anywhere.
Let your first prayer today be one of praise. Forget yourself completely. Share with Him your gasp at His greatness, singing a prayerful song of praise:
“Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the Earth!” (v. 9)
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51 thoughts on "prayers of praise"
I found myself in the same predicament today. I was so consumed with getting ready for school and preparing assignments for today that I forgot to simply thank Him for giving me another day. Sometimes, actually all the time, we just need to take a step back and thank God for all His goodness.
This is a reminder that God didn’t forget to awaken me this morning; and my guardian angels had to defend me throughout the night in realms unseen to the mortal eye. It’s only a small thing to give God His due praise and worship coupled with faith and prayer!!!
My soul floats in an ocean full of hope regardless of the dangers in the deep waters. Peace steers me towards the horizon as night fades away and God’s grace and mercies kiss my weathered skin like endless rays of sunshine. I lift my hands up and praise the One and only true King. A forgiving, loving and all knowing Father who anchors us through it all. Bless the Lord oh my soul for ever and evermore! Hallelujah!!
Thank you for reminding me that prayer and being thankful should always be the first thought of the day.
Kaira Jordyn
16 yrs
I love the fact that it mentions how God receives our praise and worship like a 5 year olds drawing because he knows it made just for him out is the kindness of our hearts.
Oh, such a familiar scenario as well as a reminder–God inhabits the praise of his people. Thank you, Father, for your unending faithfulness!
God is so amazing! And while we can see and experience His greatness every moment of every day, we often just pass over it so casually. Today’s devotion was an excellent reminder for me to take time to thank Him for His creation and the thank Him that I get to wake up and experience His glory eeacj day! His wonders are not to be taken lightly or taken for granted, but are to be admired adored. I pray that as I wake up each day, I remember to sincerely praise Him for who He is and all she does.
When I wake up in the mornings, my days definitely don’t start with how grateful I am for the new day! Nope! Instead I’m worried about the day ahead of me and barely pause to thank God for all he has done until I do my morning bible reading with my husband.
Instead of worrying about what the day may bring, I definitely need to stop and thank God for the glorious day I have ahead of me. For each day is a gift and I try to treasure every moment of every day. Starting my day with Christ in my mind and then to my morning reading are just two ways for my days to be more enriched with the Holy Spirit. I know that if I wake up with a prayer of thanks, I will have an overall sense of peace about me.
Every day I will strive to incorporate a prayer of thanks to God for the day He has made. It may sound childish, but it brings me back to that old song, “This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it!” Perhaps humming that each morning will lift my tired soul.
I so relate to this. I have to honestly admit I don’t wake up and begin praising God or feeling thankful for the new day as I should. I’m ashamed of that and want to be more mindful of God’s goodness and faithfulness each day. Thank you for this reminder, I needed to hear this today!
I love this
I love this, “Let your first prayer today be one of praise”…Forget Yourself completely.
I often watch the formation of the clouds, the bright sun shining through, and I start to imagine what heaven might be like. I know it will be beautiful. Because we have a slice of heaven right here on earth. Each and everyday there is something that catches my eye, and makes me know how marvelous our God is.
I love you words to describe what you write…it stops me & I have to take a breath & re read it and picture it in my mind. ..thank you..do you have other Bible plans & books?
I love to sit up in bed in the morning expressing my love and praise to my Jesus! More often than not I am inviting my Heavenly Father and Jesus and the Holy Spirit to come and sit with me and as I read The Word, for them to give me a nudge whenever a Rhema Word appears!
Takes me awhile to wake up and get moving in the morning but more and more I am learning to give God praise at the start of the day . Even if it’s only to thank Him for waking me . It’s a start.
For a time, the first words of f my lips were, “From the rising of the sun, to the setting of the same-the name of the Lord is worthy to be praised.”
I do not remember when I stopped saying this. But I desire to draw close to Christ and I will praise his name daily. This devotional is helping me to gain back the fever I have for Christ once again.
Often I will be awake before the sunrise. To see the darkness change to light is such a vivid picture of what God has done in our life. “How majestic is His name.” Nothing man-made can even begin to compare. And He loves us!
I always try to get up praising but just like this women said it’s usually the grumble coffee a few other things then ding…I forgot to pray! This morning I got woken up by some loud rolling thunder so much it was felt in the mattress I got out of bed came through the living room and ran out side…In my amazement it was black as night like I had expected there was beautiful blue skies, the beautiful yellow of the sun poking through some clouds then more thunder and I saw the culprit of clouds causing it and instead of them being all Grey and stormy looking they were actually quite beautiful as they had passed over our house. It was a beautiful morning here in Kendallville In at 8 thirty something as I ran out praise you abba for you are the world’s most amazing artist and everyone of your paintings are unique in every way! Blessed be the name of Yahweh and Yeshua!!!!!!
this devotional really makes you step back and think and become aware of God’s majesty,there’s no 1 and I do mean no one that is worthy of The highest praise but God!
We were created for God’s pleasure! So let’s begin each day with our purpose by giving God the Glory and Praise He deserves. As children of God we are always happy when God demonstrates His love for us, so let’s remember to give Him praise because it is one of the major ways we demonstrate our love for Him. Lord I love you!
Thank you God for being so Awese and Majestic!!! You saved me and I owe you ALL the glory, honor and praise. Every day – my first fruits will be of thanksgiving!!
I read today's reading at night. I really cannot think of a better time. I always pray at night time. I read a devotional before work everyday to have my things to meditate on for the day, but it seems much too often I get caught up in the hustle bustle of the early morning and don't always give thanks as I should. This becomes my goal for the morning as I prepare for sleep now. God is the last thing in my mind before bed, in the morning He will be the first thing there as well. Thank you for the reminder.
I heard on the news last night that the moon was at its farthest distance from the sun for their year, so it is called a mini-moon. I looked for it last night but it was to cloudy to see it. This a.m. as I left Togo out it was still dark, and there it was. Hanging in the sky, full and white and shining brightly. Even though it was at it's farthest distance from the sun it still looked as bright as always. PSalm 8 .3. Says when I look to the heavens I see the work of your fingers…so let us look to the heavens more often and consider the works of our great God!
Most mornings, I race around scrambling to be ready for work at the last minute. This devotion reminded me how taking time in the morning can help to slow me down and de-stress my mind while I focus on Him, my creator and Lord. Thank you!
This week has been an amazing week I have taken the time out to spend with God each morning I start out with prayer and studying His word. If we just get up 1/2 hour earlier and just go into our closest and spend time our Father we can see our relationship change and draw us closer to Him. 2014 my goal is draw near to God I want Him to take me to the next level in my Christian journey and ministry.
Yes! How great is our God! He’s worthy to be praised! Let’s give him thanks; anytime, anywhere.
I try to pray upon waking everyday and I try to pray thanksgiving for WHO God is before unloaded my issues and requests. Not always, but I try!!
As a Pastors wife who has been recently bitten by sheep, this message lifts my spirit. Renewal every morning!
For His unfathomable love for each and every one of us (v.4, NIV), despite our grumbles and sinful ways.
God is sooo amazing and he sends us people and signs to direct us not mislead us. So the least we can do especially since we are not perfect is pray first thing in the morning and right before bed to guide us to be as sinless as possible.
May I wake up everyday with a prayer of praise before I also start the pot of coffee and get my day started. Your morning sounds so similar to mine, Sarah.
So true..how our Creator has designed it ALL..perfectly..the magnificance of our mountains, brilliance of the flowers to the ant and his cells within!!! God truly is wonderful and I am thankful to have my heart beating today to witness it all. Praise Jesus for His sacrifice and for loving me.
This was my first post read at shereadstruth! It got me hooked on your reading plans and kept my heart towards Our Lord every morning! Thank you SRT!
Today’s devotional really hit me like a ton of bricks. I just posted about it on my blog if any of you would like to read it. ljbyhisgrace.tumblr.com
Enter with the password: “Thank you!” Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank him. Worship him. For God is sheer beauty, all-generous in love, loyal always and ever. (Psalm 100:4, 5 MSG)
How god has orchestrated this them of worship and praise this AM.
I am blessed to be in such great company of sister in Christ…
Funny… As I was finishing reading this, my husband went to the window and exclaimed, "Whoa!! Come look at the sky!" The Lord gave us one of the best sunrises we've had in a long time. It was stunning. Great timing, God:)
I love seeing His handiwork in the changing of each season. Such beauty poured into each colorful leaf, such variety in the fall smells, watching creation slowly slip into hibernation — I love that we serve such an incredibly creative God!
Beautiful praises to our God! Love this today…He deserves all the glory and the honor!
I am giving Him praise by sharing a wonderful miracle of healing that just happened to my husband's cousin, Gretchen, on my blog. So awesome to know God is still in the healing business! And whether He chooses to heal or NOT to heal, He is still God, All for a Purpose! You can read the story here… http://www.hopeinthehealing.com/2013/11/13/all-fo…
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the Earth! and that same Lord lives in me1 alleluia!
"When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?"
Reading Genesis 35 today, it talks about the death of Rachel and how Jacob (recently re-named Israel by God) has 12 sons. How this is the beginning of the 12 tribes of Israel blows my mind- following Jacob's life and his choices, we see how horribly he messed up at different parts- and yet God used him in spite of himself.
This blew my mind. All of the details of Jacob's life- Lord, who are we, that you would take interest in our petty lives? That you LOVE us?
God, THANK YOU for using us to further your plan in spite of our rebellion and foolishness! Praise your name for your love, that works in spite of how lovely the objects of it's affection are! Your love is all that is needed!! Help us all to remember this as we go about today, father God.
PS that quoted verse was 3 and 4 of Psalm 8 :)
Today's message was EXACTLY me this morning and describes my praising moment to a "TEE".
I am very sure most people have a morning moment like this and wish that it could last more than just a precious few minutes without feeling rushed…
Sarah I am there right with you! Funny thing is your words could have described me just minutes before logging onto SRT.Although my groans about getting out of bed aren't from an alarm, more moans of pain(that comes from getting old LOL), but I did stumble to the kitchen to start the coffee and open the blinds to see the wonderful beauty of the world God created! Thank you for being so down to earth that we can relate! I too want to sing praise to my Lord and Savior today and every day for all the beauty and love that he shows me everyday. Thank you God for the big and small ways that you fill my day with your love! Thank you for SRT and all the wonderful women who join together to study and blog so that we all might come to better understand you!
When we do not sing praises to Him the rocks will cry out His glory!!
I have a hard time wrapping my head around why people look in the sky and see such beautiful creation and yet refuse to believe God created it.
He made us a little lower than angels.
We are crowned with Glory and Honor.
We are rulers over the works of His hands.
Everything is under our feet.
God, forgive for what we have done withyour creation. Your creation was birthed at your Breath – teach us to conquer it with love and not with a heavy hand of disrespect.
Lord, you gift us with a sunrise and wink at us with your sunset, may we see Your glory in every part of of it.
Love this… Thank you for sharing. <3
Wow…thank you for the word picture: "like the crayon-scrawled thank you note we get from a child. He’ll take our gift and cherish it anytime, anywhere.". So many times my words seem inadequate and poorly fashioned. When one of my granddaughters gives me one of her crayon drawings or finger paintings (they're two and four) it does bless me. And I do admire it and put it on my refrigerator door where I can see it often and be reminded of their thoughts toward me. I pay no attention to color combinations or form…I see only my grandchild's heart. If my human, earth-bound heart can be blessed this way…how much more God's, who is infinitely more loving and understanding than me.
You made me tear up this morning! Lovely comparison of our response to our little ones and God's response to our (frail) attempts. It reminds me of how much God used my interactions with my children when they were young to show me His heart for me. Lovely…
The Heavens declare Your Greatness,
The Oceans cry out to You,
The Mountains they bow down before You,
So I'll join with the Earth and I'll give my praise to You! ♥
http://youtu.be/CJQCYRAyazY
Listening to: "Majestic" by Lincoln Brewster :)
LOL!!! I just did the same thing!!! I was singing the song in my head and went and found the same link!
I love when Jesus makes me smile like that!
Misce, Thank you for sharing the link….I love it and it soooo perfect for today's study!
There are days (not often enough, I admit) where I just think about one thing from God’s creation to marvel on. Could be trees, flowers, stars, the sea, sand, animals, anything at all. It always, always, brings me to a place of praise for the Awesome Wonder that is our God! He indeed is amazing and we should never get too busy to gasp at His wonderful works. We should never get to the point where we take them for granted. Like the hymn says “when I consider all the works Your hands have made… Then sings my soul… How great Thou art”. That’s my prayer of praise today, How Great Thou Art!!