ABCs of Praise

A few weeks ago, my son and I joined some members of our church for a prayer walk around Memorial Park. We each had a sheet of prayer prompts to use during our stroll through the park and before long we had prayed through our list. With some time on our hands, I invited my son to join me in using the rest of our walk as a time of praise.

We began sharing things that we were thankful for, but as is sometimes the case, we found ourselves sharing the same things that we always thank God for. And while I believe God inhabits the praise of his people and receives our worship with gladness, I wanted to avoid the rote “thank yous” that we can so easily slip into.

I thought it might be a good time to introduce my son to a practice that I have come to love. I wonder if maybe it will breathe some new life into your time of praise and thanksgiving as well?

One way I love to praise God is to use a tool called the ABCs of Praise. If memory serves me correctly, one of our past INSPIRE Heart Retreat speakers, Becky Harling, introduced me to this method. It’s incredibly simple, is a joy to do, and helps us be a little more creative, attuned, and insightful as we praise God.

The practice is simple. Much like the alphabet game you played on long car rides as a kid, you simply move through the alphabet, one letter at a time, praising God for something that begins with that letter.
It might sound like:
God, I thank you for my sister Amanda and the gift she is in my life. I thank you for the Book that I’m reading that’s teaching me more about how to live like Jesus. I thank you for Coffee. Thank you, God, for the Dawn of each new day and the promise that with each one comes a fresh supply of new mercy….

Another option is to praise God by using the ABCs to recognize his attributes and his characteristics that you are most thankful for.
That could sound like:
God, you are Awesome. You are Bountiful in your grace. God, you are Compassionate. You are my Deliverer….

We serve a good, good God who is worthy of our praise. It’s our joy to worship him and lift his name high. Not only that, our adoration transforms our hearts. As we thank him, we are changed. Gratitude is stirred up in our hearts and our focus moves off of us and onto the generous and giving God we are praising.

It makes me think of Paul’s words to the Philippians.
Philippians 4:4-8 NIV
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

I’d love to just invite you to think on the things of God this week. Would you join me in practicing the ABCs of Praise as a way inviting transformation in your heart?

Prayer

God, thank you for your abundant goodness. Thank you that as we praise you and think on the things of God, you transform our hearts. You fill us with gratitude and you lift our eyes off of our own situations and turn us toward you. Help us to be people of praise. God, we love you and we thank you for the ways you love us. Amen.

Scripture for Meditation

Philippians 4:4-8 NIV
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Journal Reflection

How has God been good to you lately? Make a list and try to include both the big things and the seemingly small things. How does your heart feel as you think on the things of God? What do you notice?

Practice

This week's practice is the ABCs of Praise. Pick one of the methods from this weeks devotional, or maybe try both.