Last night when I got into bed, I was completely wrecked by my sin—my selfishness in not loving my husband and children well, my discontentment, my quickness to anger, my quickness to speak out of anger… I could go on. And as I cried, I finally cried out to the Lord. I had been in the middle of writing this devotion on prayer, and yet turning to Him was not my first reaction. But the Lord, who sees and knows the depth of my sin much better than I do, met me and reminded me that He sees me in all my mess and loves me still. Indeed, there is great reward in prayer (Matthew 6:6).
Prayer is coming to my Father as a needy child, acknowledging my inability to change situations or people or my own heart, and then acknowledging that God is mighty and that He reigns, ascribing worth to the Lord for who He is.
In Psalm 44, this kind of worship is modeled for us. Here, the psalmist is very real with his emotions. His plea is raw with vulnerability. He feels abandoned, yet he begins and ends the psalm in recognition of God’s faithful love for His people. Despite feeling rejected and forgotten, he comes back to what he knows to be true: God is faithful.
This is just one way prayer blesses, or “rewards,” us. When we turn to God in prayer, we are reminded of who He is and who we are not. There is relief in remembering that we are not the center of all things—not even our own lives. He is. And as He recenters us, He is able to do serious work in our hardened hearts as only He can, bringing peace when we feel fraught with anxiety.
Of course, the ultimate reward of prayer is being in relationship with the Lord Himself. Prayer can be a form of worship because engaging in prayer reminds us that He is in our midst, in the details of our lives. “God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble” (Psalm 46:1). Regardless of our circumstances, He is sovereign.
“The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love” (Psalm 103:8). God knows our desperate need of Him, even when we don’t acknowledge it ourselves. He says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). His presence alone is the perfect balm to our weary souls.
Prayer is an open invitation to relationship with God. It’s not always going to look pretty because we’re sinful, a broken and messy people. But Jesus’s blood covers all our sin—past, present, and future. He sees us in secret, knows the depths of our hearts, and loves us still.
Kimberly Girard is a well-loved child of God, wife of an extraordinary man, mother of three amazing kids, and writer living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. You can find her at Loud Singing and on Twitter.
Leave a Reply
54 thoughts on "Worship Through Prayer"
Prayer is difficult for me. I don’t know if any will understand this but I know God will take care of everything. I trust Him. I know Him. I have faith and believe He will always do what is best. Praying for something that I know will happen seems strange. Now, I will thank God and praise Him but I don’t formally pray except at church. God is calling me to have faith and believe His words about prayer and obey.
Kelly Chataine, We just finished a series at my church called Pray Like Jesus. It focused on the many times Jesus prayed
In the Bible to God. Our pastor spoke about how prayer is more of our relationship with God. He delights in hearing from us. It shows Him we are faithful to Him by praying. We should also use prayer time as a way to listen to God. Pray for Him to speak to you. I would encourage you to really delve into daily prayer.
Kelly, sounds like the words you wrote on here are a prayer to me! Sounds like something someone with a lot of deep yearning would say-a lot like King David! May Jesus open your eyes to see the ways He loves you so much and is already moving on your behalf. His spirit groans for you even if you never uttered another word. Blessings to you today!
God is able.
An appropriate reading as I am going in to talk to my midwife today about my anxiety. I am praying that the Lord will guide her to the right treatment plan for me. I know He is sovereign in all things and He cares for every one of my fears and worries.
Thank you SRT and Churchmouse. I’m feeling discouraged and overwhelmed with my job – but I can run to Him. He is my help, He is my strength. He Is.
Amy, I will be praying for you.
When I was a little girl, we would visit my grandparents lake house a couple times each summer, and we would have the privilege of hearing their summer pastor preach and pray. He didn’t close his eyes in prayer, and it was penetratingly beautiful. The congregation did, but, this little girl didn’t the first time and once I saw his eyes in prayer, I didn’t close them afterwards either. His eyes poured out love. Love to a little girl, looking around. Love for the bountiful gifts God provides (in that very humble, somewhat shoddy building – it was all about attitude). Love for the Father. He was not looking around to see who was watching. He was facetiming with God, and it was beautiful!
This morning as I remembered that humble, godly pastor, I thought about the gift of worshipful prayer we have been given. When this life’s journey ends and we live in heaven with God, we will be together – face to face, in constant communion with Him. We will not have need of prayer for we will be in His presence.
But, for now, as we dwell on this earth, God has given us prayer as an entrance into His presence. He is always with us. He knows us better than we know ourselves. While He deserves all the praise and honor that comes in worshipful prayer, He doesn’t need it. He. Knows. I. Do. He offers himself, this open door into His presence. This source of communion.
My Father. You never cease to amaze me. You draw me. Open me. Love me. May your name alone be praised. Thank you Lord.
Beautifully written ❤️
Thanks for sharing that
Ah prayer. How sweet it is. No matter the emotions I take to the throne of my Father, I am welcomed there, embraced by the One who made me. I worship Him in prayer, acknowledging Who He is. In return, He reminds me who I am. I am His beloved. I am His child. I am His friend. I am the apple of His eye. I am His chosen. I am holy. I am righteous. I am redeemed. I am forgiven. I am set free. I am delivered. I am restored. I am destined for eternity with Him. I am all these things and more. I may enter His throne room bowed in shame and sorrow for once again failing to obey Him. I may enter His throne room embarrassed for once again falling into habitual sin. I may enter His throne room sobbing in my grief and discontent and confusion. I may enter His throne room numb from stress and pressure, unsure if I can go on. Sometimes the emotions are just too much but I. Go. To. Him. The going is the worship. I take my eyes off me and turn them to Him Who is more than able. I collapse at His feet and He draws me near and lifts me up. He speaks softly and tenderly and imparts words of wisdom and strength and power. Sometimes He is silent and I am just held. He holds me until I can stand. He reminds me I am His, always. I worship Him when I go to Him in prayer and I worship Him as I leave. What else could I do? He is worthy. And I am the blessed child of the one true God.
This is beautiful and a devotional reading in itself. Thank you. I always look for your post.
Me too
❤️
❤️❤️❤️Thank you for your encouragement and speaking truth, Churchmouse. What a precious gift we have in prayer!
This beautifully spoken!! Amen and amen!!
Thank you Churchmouse. This was a blessing to me today.
I needed this. Thank you
❤️
Amen!
Amen ❤️
Oh how He loves me. I can’t even imagine how someone so great as God could love me. I’m so grateful that He does. And He listens when I pray. Thank you Lord for your unfailing love, even when You feel far off.
Amen
Seeing God for who He is has been a problem for me. I’m reading a book called: None like Him by Jen Wilkins. She is showing 10 ways God is different from us! That’s truth I need to really understand! As she states above, He knows everything about us, and He still loves us! Only He can change our hard hearts of stone. Amazing!