Learning The Language Of Praise - Online Magazine Archives - NavPress

Learning The Language Of Praise - Online Magazine Archives - NavPress

This reminds me a lot of a list of PRAISE PHRASES that I started while at Word of Life Fellowship.
Here is the suggestion from the article. I will try to find my list and add it too. I have pasted here because you have to have an account to access the DJ archives.

Learning The Language Of Praise

How to savor a new aspect of God's character every day

• Published in the January | February 2000 issue
• Written by Bob Hostetler

I'm not often at a loss for words. My wife says that when we first began dating, the words I used to describe her considerable charms were partly responsible for her budding love for me. Later, as a pastor and preacher, I seldom struggled to find something to say, either in or out of the pulpit.

I've always been able to hold up my end of a conversation without difficulty. Except, that is, when it came to prayer, and particularly when I tried to express my praise to God. I wanted to praise God with all that was within me, but I couldn't think of one sensible thing to say.

I recently read a book called Invading the Privacy of God by Cecil Murphey. He describes how praising God's attributes revolutionized his prayer life. I began imitating that practice in my own prayer times. Over the course of a few months, I developed a "program of praise" that has proven wonderfully helpful. It has opened a door for me, and my praises to God now flow freely from my heart and lips during prayer. I focus on one attribute of God each day, using the paraphrased, Scripture-based sentences in this article as praise starters. At the end of each month, I start the list over.

1. GOD THE CREATOR. "Creator God, I praise You because You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship You" (see Neh. 9:6).

2. THE ONLY GOD. "God, I praise You because You are the Lord, and there is no other. Apart from You there is no God" (see Is. 45:5).

3. THE ALMIGHTY GOD. "O Lord God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O Lord, and your faithfulness surrounds you" (Ps. 89:8).

4. THE EVERLASTING FATHER, THE ANCIENT OF DAYS. "I praise You, Lord, as the Ancient of Days (see Dan. 7:9), the Everlasting Father who lives forever and ever" (see Is. 9:6).

5. A LOVING GOD. "I praise You because You are a loving God, whose very nature is love" (see 1 Jn. 4:16).

6. A GOD OF JUSTICE. "Lord, I magnify You, because You are just and You justify those who have faith in Jesus" (see Ro. 3:26).

7. A FAITHFUL GOD. "Heavenly Father, I give You my adoration, because You are a faithful God, keeping Your covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love You and keep Your commands" (see Dt. 7:9).

8. A MERCIFUL GOD. "You are a gracious and merciful God, and I praise You for Your great mercy" (see Neh. 9:31).

9. GOD, MY ROCK AND MY REFUGE. "I praise You, Lord, for You are my mighty rock, my refuge" (seePs. 62:7).

10. A PATIENT, PERSEVERING GOD. "Father, I praise You because You are patient, not wanting anyone to perish, but wanting everyone to come to repentance. Thank You for Your patience with me" (see 2 Pet. 3:9).

11. ETERNAL, SAVING GOD. "I give praise to You, Father, the only God and Savior. To You be the glory, majesty, power, and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore" (see Jude 25).

12. THE HOLY ONE. "Holy, holy, holy are You, Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come" (see Rev. 4:8).

13. A PERSONAL GOD. "I praise You, God, because You are a personal God, who gives me the honor of knowing You, even inviting me to feast at Your kingdom's table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob" (seeMt. 8:11).

14. A GIVING GOD. "All praise and honor be Yours, O God, because You are a generous God, who did not even stop short of giving Your own Son" (see Jn. 3:16).

15. A PROVIDER GOD. "I praise You today, Lord, as my Jehovah-Jireh (The Lord Will Provide), who makes all grace abound to me and generously provides all I need" (see 2 Cor. 9:8).

16. GOD, MY SHEPHERD. "I bless Your name and praise You as my Jehovah-Rohi (The Lord My Shepherd), who will shepherd me and guide me in the paths of righteousness for Your name's sake" (seePs. 23:1–3).

17. GOD, MY VICTORY. "Praise to You, my God, because You are my Jehovah-Nissi (The Lord My Banner), my victory, who always leads me in triumphal procession in Christ" (see 2 Cor. 2:14).

18. GOD, MY PEACE. "I praise You with all my heart, Lord, because You are my Jehovah-Shalom (The Lord Our Peace), the God of peace who will soon crush Satan under my feet" (see Ro. 16:20).

19. THE GOD WHO HEALS. "Father, I praise You because You are the Lord who heals me" (see Ex. 15:26).

20. THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort" (2 Cor. 1:3).

21. THE GOD OF MIRACLES. "Lord, I praise You because You perform miracles. You display Your power among the peoples" (see Ps. 77:14).

22. A FORGIVING GOD. "I want to bless You with praise, Father, because You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in love" (see Neh. 9:17).

23. THE BURDEN BEARER. "Praise be to the Lord, to God my Savior, who daily bears my burdens" (see Ps. 68:19).

24. A FAITHFUL GOD. "I praise You because Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies (see Ps. 36:5), and great is Your faithfulness" (see Lam. 3:23).

25. KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. "All honor and praise be to You, my God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light" (see 1 Tim. 6:15).

26. GOD, MY LIBERATOR. "I will praise You because You are my help and my deliverer" (see Ps. 70:5).

27. THE LIFTER OF MY HEAD. "Father God, I praise You because You are a shield around me, O Lord. You bestow glory on me and lift up my head when I am weary or despised" (see Ps. 3:3).

28. GOD OF LIGHT. "I praise You, Lord, because You are my light and my salvation (see Ps. 27:1), and because You know what lies in darkness, and light dwells with You" (see Dan. 2:22).

29. GOD OF JOY. "I give You praise, O Lord, because You have granted me eternal blessings and made me glad with the joy of Your presence" (see Ps. 21:6).

30. THE GOD WHO ANSWERS PRAYER. "I praise and honor You, Father, because You are a God who loves to answer prayer and who begins to answer even as I pray" (see Is. 65:24).

31. THE GOD OF ALL THE EARTH. "I praise and adore You, Lord, as the Holy One of Israel, my Redeemer, the God of all the earth" (see Is. 54:5).

Following this program has energized my praise life, helping me worship and adore God more plentifully and purposefully in prayer. It has also enlarged my vision and awareness of the praiseworthy God I love and serve and, I believe, increased the evidence of His godly character in my life. I pray that it may do the same for you.