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Source: (consider it)
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Thread: Praise in private prayer
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balaam
Making an ass of myself
# 4543
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Posted
As a new Christian in the 1970s I read books such as Prison to Praise, in fact there were a lot of books about the importance of Praise in the Evangelical bookshops at the time.
Of course it was not long before I found out there was nothing new in this. There have been patterns of prayer (Such as A.C.T.S — Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Suplication) which mention the importance of praise or adoration.
What I am asking is: - What is the importance of praise in private prayer, and
- what makes it important?
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Posts: 9049 | From: Hen Ogledd | Registered: May 2003
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Raptor Eye
Shipmate
# 16649
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Posted
It's as important as saying 'I love you' to our nearest and dearest. It's important because it's in prayer that we spend the closest time with God.
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Be still, and know that I am God! Psalm 46.10
Posts: 4359 | From: The United Kingdom | Registered: Sep 2011
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Lamb Chopped
Ship's kebab
# 5528
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Posted
It's a way of enjoying God.
Think about it--this is one way we enjoy virtually everything, by praising it. How frustrating it is when you find the perfect recipe or fishing hole but are bound by promise to tell no one about it!
Or think of a person newly in love. What is going on in all that daydreaming and all that (hopefully private) bad poetry? The lover is savoring his beloved's characteristics through praise. And when lovers meet or write, how much of their intimate cov,nversation is praise?
No surprise if those who love God praise him. It's part of the pleasure.
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Er, this is what I've been up to (book).
Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down!
Posts: 20059 | From: off in left field somewhere | Registered: Feb 2004
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mark_in_manchester
not waving, but...
# 15978
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Posted
Ooohhhh...this makes me feel bad. Like a lover who only notices the love he takes utterly for granted, when he's run round and round getting more and more disillusioned with all the other enticements on offer. Back he comes, sulky, bloated and dejected.
Though something like that love is still there. I was in a shop tonight, where I overheard two people discussing a concert taking place in a church. "It's a beautiful building - which is about where my appreciation of churches ends". I felt something odd which I now realise was rather similar to overhearing someone insult my wife.
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"We are punished by our sins, not for them" - Elbert Hubbard
(so good, I wanted to see it after my posts and not only after those of shipmate JBohn from whom I stole it)
Posts: 1596 | Registered: Oct 2010
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LeRoc
Famous Dutch pirate
# 3216
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Posted
I guess one good thing about praising God in prayer from time to time is to reduce the risk of focusing only on our own needs. That can be healthy from time to time.
I once did a sermon on Psalm 150 (possibly the only Psalm where David doesn't complain or ask God for stuff) where I said this more or less.
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I know why God made the rhinoceros, it's because He couldn't see the rhinoceros, so He made the rhinoceros to be able to see it. (Clarice Lispector)
Posts: 9474 | From: Brazil / Africa | Registered: Aug 2002
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Lamb Chopped
Ship's kebab
# 5528
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by mark_in_manchester:
. I was in a shop tonight, where I overheard two people discussing a concert taking place in a church. "It's a beautiful building - which is about where my appreciation of churches ends". I felt something odd which I now realise was rather similar to overhearing someone insult my wife.
![[Killing me]](graemlins/killingme.gif)
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Er, this is what I've been up to (book).
Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down!
Posts: 20059 | From: off in left field somewhere | Registered: Feb 2004
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Curiosity killed ...
Ship's Mug
# 11770
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Posted
It's odd, isn't it? We all pray so differently. I find I use praise in prayer is a way that is more like the arrow prayers, the things I pray when I'm out and about, looking at a stunning view, glorious day, autumn colours. Taking time to pray I forget to add in praise.
And trying not to add a tangent to this thread when the Lord's Prayer thread exists, I heard a sermon saying that the Lord's Prayer is a good example of ACTS - Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication - in one prayer.
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Mugs - Keep the Ship afloat
Posts: 13794 | From: outiside the outer ring road | Registered: Aug 2006
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balaam
Making an ass of myself
# 4543
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by LeRoc:
I guess one good thing about praising God in prayer from time to time is to reduce the risk of focusing only on our own needs. That can be healthy from time to time.
This.
I find that praise is a great way of taking my mind off my own problems and focus on the positive qualities of God.
So if things are happening that I find are unjust, I find it good to praise God because he is a god of justice before bringing the concern. If you formularise this it can sound like the Collects used in Anglican services, which just goes to show threre is nothing ne in praising God.
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Posts: 9049 | From: Hen Ogledd | Registered: May 2003
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Martin60
Shipmate
# 368
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Posted
All good stuff. But we're also closest to God when we're in gutted loss and He's nowhere to be felt.
Noticing beauty is praise. I agree it's nice to tell Him (who?! God-Lord-Father-Jesus-Gelert?).
And praise seems subtly different from thanks. Archaic yet ... a piece of the jigsaw. It's part of traditional corporate liturgy, so don't fix it. And personally appropriate.
A funny business all of it. I like praising God when I don't feel like it. When everything's gone to Hell. Allelujah anyway.
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Love wins
Posts: 17586 | From: Never Dobunni after all. Corieltauvi after all. Just moved to the capital. | Registered: Jun 2001
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