Prayer based on Psalm 148.

Father you are worthy of all praise. You are the Creator of all and your creation is obliged to praise you. You are both the creator and the sustainer. You are worthy. From the heavenly beings to the stars and galaxies to the moon and the sun, out of your mouth you created it all and by your hand you sustain it all. You are indeed worthy of praise. Without speech or tongues, the splendor and magnificence, the intricacy and flawless design of creation declares your glory. From breathtaking sunrises and sunsets to majestic mountains to frail flower blossoms to the beauty of changing seasons, we are surrounded by reminders of your brilliant creation. Might we take notice of your handiwork.  Might our minds be drawn to the creator and not just the splendor of your creation.   

As beings carefully crafted in your image, we have the ability to sing, to write, to pray, to articulate and declare your praise. May we paise you with exuberance, persistence and matchless joyfulness. Might we praise you not just as creator, but also as our redeemer.   

You creation is one miracle stacked upon another miracle. Yet those miracles pale in comparison to the miracle you accomplish as you transform our dead hearts.  Our eyes can see creation, but our hearts are unable to praise and worship the creator until you take our heart of stone and give us a heart of flesh. This is the miracle that allows us to praise you as our redeemer, not just our creator.  

We were all dead in our trespasses. We walked according to the course of this world. According to the prince of the power of the air. We were hostile towards you. We had no desire to obey you. We lived in the lust of our flesh. We indulged in the desires of the flesh. By nature, we were children of wrath.   

But God, you were rich in mercy. You had great love for us.  When You were still our enemy, and when we were dead in our transgressions, You made us alive with Christ. By grace, You have saved us. You are worthy of our endless praise. You show us unfathomable, underserved and unmeasurable kindness and grace. You have chosen us to be new creations. You have chosen us to put off the old self as we are now made new in Christ. Might we praise and worship you with this clear understanding and motivation. Might our hearts be filled with gratitude for your grace and mercy to a point that we can’t help but praise you with our lips and our lives.   

Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power. May we praise the name of Yahweh. For your name is to be exalted over every name. It’s in the name of Christ that I pray – Amen.