President Randy Remington welcomes us to 21 Days of Prayer + Fasting 2024 by reflecting on Praise + Gratitude.
Today’s Scripture
“Among the gods there is none like You, Lord; no deeds can compare with Yours. All the nations You have made will come and worship before You, Lord; they will bring glory to Your name. For You are great and do marvelous deeds; You alone are God. Teach me Your way, Lord, that I may rely on Your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name. I will praise You, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify Your name forever.”
—Psalm 86:8-12 (NIV)
“Blessed be Your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. You alone are the Lord. 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.”
—Nehemiah 9:5-6 (NIV)
“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You.”
—Psalm 139:13-18 (NKJV)
Reflect on the Word
Let’s begin our collective 21 Days of Prayer + Fasting by looking up and seeing Jesus, high and lifted up, eternally enthroned over all creation. As ministers, a vocational hazard we sometimes face is losing sight of God’s majesty and wonder just as we are trying to present Him as majestic and wondrous to others! Prayer and praise go hand in hand to totally renew our souls. He is worthy of our praise. Let’s pray together.
Prayer + Contemplation
- Take time right now to recapture the glory and awe of God in whatever way feels right (singing, prayer, etc.).
- Ask the Holy Spirit to bring to mind areas in your life where God has become tame or small, and allow Him to expand in your heart.
- Go for a walk in a quiet and beautiful setting, or drive somewhere peaceful. Pause in a safe place to look up at the sky, and allow creation to lead your heart into praise and worship for all God is and what He has done.
Family Moment: ABCs of praise
Read Psalm 86:10. You just read a prayer of praise! When we praise God, we declare truths about who He is. Can you think of words that describe God? Create your family’s ABCs of praise. Starting with each letter of the alphabet, allow family members to write down or share aloud a word that describes God. Continue your way through the alphabet, celebrating your ABCs of praise when you arrive at
letter Z!
