Appreciation to God for this edition of the 40 days’ spiritual exercise
Welcome to the 2024 Lenten period. It is indeed great to commence the first day of the Lenten period with an attitude of praise. Yes, we are entering His gate with thanksgiving in our hearts and His court with praises. What I love about Psalm 146 are the dimensions of praise given here: my soul, all my life, and as long as I live. The psalmist, and the Holy Spirit who inspired him, want us to realise that praise must be all-encompassing. Our lives are to be a “holy praise” to the Lord as long as we have breath! Our praise is supposed to be intense, real, and intentional. Praise is meant to be our lifestyle 24/7. In Psalm 34:1, the psalmist said I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth. So how’s your praise? Have you only been letting it out at church? It’s time to let the rest of your life have a few hallelujah as you praise the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength!
Praise is our weapon of victory, a key for the More than Conqueror living. The Israelite understood this very well, as they defeated all the great nations around them with weapon of praise.
Our second reading, Psalm 124, teaches us to appreciate God for the past victories. In this psalm David is recounting the way God rescued Israel from danger. When they were sure to be overcome, God delivered them. When they couldn’t save themselves, God saved them. This is our story too. We were born into a desperate situation – but God, through Christ, has made a way for us to be saved. And for those of us who have be rescued by Him this psalm should help us grow in praise, gratitude and trust in God.
If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,” Let Israel now say— “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us alive, when their wrath was kindled against us; then the waters would have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul; then the swollen waters would have gone over our soul.” Blessed be the Lord, Who has not given us as prey to their teeth. Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 124
“Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! While I live I will praise the Lord; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.” Psalm 146:1-2
PRAYER POINTS
- Let us sing of the worthiness of God to receive our praise, worship, and adoration in Jesus’ name. Sing, “Thou art worthy, Thou art worthy O Lord, to receive glory, honour and power.” (Revelations 4:11).
- O great and mighty God, whose greatness is unsearchable, we worship You for being partakers of this year’s 40 days’ spiritual exercise in Jesus’ name. (Psalm 145:3) Sing: Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised ….” (Psalm 96:4).
- O Lord, we thank You for the manifestations of the power and presence of God in the past editions of the 40 days’ spiritual exercise in the name of Jesus (Psalm 150:2; 143:5).
- Let’s thank God for His marvellous deeds among us since the beginning of the 40 days’ spiritual exercise in Jesus’ name. (Psalm 105:1-2).
- O Lord, we appreciate You for these 40 days of spiritual exercise and the resultant mighty acts of God in our midst in this Lenten season in Jesus’ name (Psalm 98:1, 5).
- O Lord, that has declared the end from the beginning, we appreciate You for the all-round success in this year 40 days’ spiritual exercise in Jesus’ name. (Isaiah 46:9-11; 25:1).
- Covenant keeping God, we thank You for the assured answer to all our prayers in this year’s 40 days of spiritual exercise in Jesus’ name. (Matthew 18:19; Psalm 66:20).
- O Lord, we thank You for the precious blood of Jesus that has been provided to cleanse and remove all iniquities that can stand as an hinderance to our prayers in this year’s 40 days’ spiritual exercise in Jesus’ name. (1 John 1:7-9; Hebrews 9:13-14).
- Our Lord, who is plenteous in mercy, we thank You for the mercy that will answer us in this year’s spiritual excise in Jesus’ name. (Psalm 130:7).
- O Lord, we appreciate You for an unusual empowerment and strength for all our members to successfully complete this year’s spiritual exercise in Jesus’ name (2 Peter 1:3; Acts 10:38).
- O Lord, we thank You for our light shall break forth like the morning, and our healing shall spring forth speedily in this year’s 40 days’ spiritual exercise in Jesus’ name. (Isaiah 58:8).
- O Lord, we thank You for the assured all round victory that has been guaranteed to us in this year’s spiritual exercise in Jesus’ name (1 Corinthians 15:57; 2:4).
- O Lord, we thank You for the deliverances that will take place in this year’s spiritual exercise in Jesus’ name. (Isaiah 58:6; Psalm 50:15).
- Lord, as we bring our sacrifice of praise to You with utmost reverence and adoration, You will fill our mouths with fresh testimonies and thanksgiving in Jesus’ name. (Psalm 126:1-2; John 9:25).
- O Lord, thank You for accepting our sacrifice of praise today and every day of this spiritual exercise in the name of Jesus. (Hebrews 13:15-16).
