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PRAYING THROUGH A SONG

By Dr. Barry L. Davis

www.mindofchrist.net

            There are several ways you can use songs to enhance your prayer time and your worship of the Lord. Besides the obvious of singing them, or listening to them played, is that of using the words of a song to stimulate your praying.

            The following are two brief examples of how to pray through a song, phrase by phrase. Don't feel you have to do every word/phrase or even verse if nothing comes to you mind for prayer. These are only tools to help you enrich your prayer time.

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY

Holy, holy, holy!

Lord God Almighty!

• Acknowledge the holiness of God, that He is worthy to be worshipped and praised.

• Confirm that He is your Lord and your God, and that you submit to His Lordship in every area of your life.

• Agree that He has all power. For example, you might pray, "Lord, You are absolutely holy. There is no sin in You at all. You are the only God, Lord of all, and have all power.

            Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.

• In prayer, commit to prayer and singing to the Lord in the morning. Consider doing this as the first thing on your day's agenda.

            Merciful and mighty!

• Express your gratitude to Him for His many mercies you've experienced. Name some of them specifically.

• Acknowledge His might, rulership, and absolute control over the world.

            God in three Persons, Blessed Trinity!

• Acknowledge that the Lord is Triune. Thank each one of the Trinity for their role in helping your life.

JOY TO THE WORLD

    Joy to the world! The Lord is come.

• Express the joy you have because Jesus came and the meaning of His coming to the world.

For example, you might pray:

Father, Thank You so much for sending Jesus into the world to be born here, live here as our example, and die for our sins. What joy fills my heart when I think of all His coming means to me in my life. My salvation, the guidance you give me, my eternal life with You and all You are doing in me to make me more like Jesus.

         Let earth receive her King.

You might pray:

Lord Jesus, I receive You as my King. Live in my life in all I do. I want to be submissive to You in everything. Show me any time I am not letting You be King of my life.

            Let every heart prepare Him room.

You could pray for the salvation of relatives and other unbelievers, that they will have their heart prepared to receive Jesus into their life.

            And Heaven and nature sing.

• Agree to the fact that there is rejoicing in heaven over our lost ones coming to Him.

• You can tell the Lord that you want to join with all creation in singing because of the coming of Jesus into the world.