Psalms, Hymns and Prayers of Adoration

38 Pages·2009·0.25 MB·English

Psalms, Hymns and Prayers of Adoration

“God is worthy of our praise irrespective of our circumstances”
Rev. John S. Mahon
“The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him all of our lives”
(Shorter Catechism – Westminster Confession)

Adoration is the worship of God without reference to our circumstances. It is to praise Him and to
adore Him for who He is and what He does. Very little of what passes for worship is indeed the
worship of God. Most worship times begin something like this, “Lets start our time together by
spending a few minutes in worship of God. Why don’t we go around in prayer and each of your
praise God for something.” At which time people begin to pray, “I praise God for getting me a job”;
“I praise God for healing my aunt”; “I praise God for this wonderful building in which we are
meeting” and the list goes on. Actually what is taking place is Thanksgiving rather than Adoration.
In each instance the individual is thankful to God for what God has done for him or for someone he
knows. He is worshiping God through thanksgiving for those actions of God which he or some
person directly benefits. This is not wrong but it is not true adoration. Just because we put the word
“praise” in the prayer does not make it adoration. God is worthy of our adoration, our praise
irrespective of our circumstances. Adoration is the worship of God without reference to man and the
benefits man derives.

When I first began to spend daily time alone with God I often baffled by passages such as Psalms
145:1-2 “I will extol You, my God, O King, And I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I
will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever and ever.” How was this possible? How could I
praise God for having a bad day? How could I praise God when everything went wrong? How can I
praise God when my world is crashing down around me? We praise God for good things, but how can
I praise Him “every day” when so many of my days are bad? What I came to understand in my study
of Praise and Adoration is that God is worthy of my praise for who He is and what He does
irrespective of my personal circumstances. One of God’s divine attributes is that He is holy. God is
worthy of my praise for His holiness whether I am having a good day or bad. Another divine attribute
is His mercy. Again God is worthy of my praise for His mercy no matter my life’s circumstances. This
is when we truly understand the Adoration and Worship of God. When we begin to worship Him for
who He is and what He has done without reference to ourselves. The angels who surround the throne
understand this as revealed in Revelation 5:12 “ saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb that
was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing’." We
worship God not for what He had done for us or for others but rather simply for who He is and what
He has done. The worthiness of God to receive praise and adoration is totally unconditional and
without reference to our circumstances. We have no part and we play no part in the worthiness of God
to receive honor and glory and blessing. It is ours to praise and adore Him daily.

To do this we must first understand the attributes and nature of God. At the end of this Quiet Time
series is a list of the attributes of God. A word of caution. If you find it hard to worship one of God’s
divine attributes this reveals sin in your life. We must never, never, never question the character and
nature of God as revealed by His holy, eternal, inspired and inerrant written Word. We submit to this
revelation totally.
Let us now revisit the scenario - “Lets start our time together by spending a few minutes in worship of
God. Why don’t we go around in prayer and each of your praise God for something.” At which time
people would begin to pray, “I praise you that you are the creator”’; “I worship you as merciful God”;
“O Lord we adore you as the faithful and loving Father”; “You O Lord are the wrathful judge and we
worship You” and so one. Actually man is so selfish that as you begin this you will find it awkward
and perhaps even sterile. In our sinful, selfish minds it is hard to recognize anyone, including God for
anything that does not in someway benefit us or those around us in some small way. We bring this
selfishness to prayer but the discipline of opening your prayer time in true worship and adoration will
be of great long-term spiritual benefit if you will but learn to submit to it and your position before God.

This Quiet Time series begins with one week of meditations on the subject of Worship and Adoration.
Passages have been specifically chosen to help you in this. Then it is followed by Psalms of Worship
and Adoration. You will notice that not all Psalms are pure Worship and Adoration but the emphasis
is there never-the-less. I would encourage you to, in addition to working your way through the daily
devotionals provided to in addition work your way through the attributes of God provided.

First: Begin your Quiet Time by going to the end of this series and praising God, without reference to
man for the “attribute of the day”. Allow the passages selected to shape and guide your
understanding and your adoration of God for this attribute. Having done that put a “check”, or as the
British say a “tick” by the attribute.

Second: Pray and ask God to speak to you from His Word. I often pray this short prayer provided for
us by God the Holy Spirit from the Psalms.

Psalms 119:124-125 Deal with Your servant according to Your lovingkindness And teach me Your
statutes. I am Your servant; give me understanding, That I may know Your testimonies.

Third: Read the passage provided from the holy, eternal, inspired, inerrant, written Word of God.

Fourth: Allow the questions provided with the Quiet Time sheet to guide your prayers and
meditations, closing your time in prayer, in the same way you began, in worship of God, without
reference to yourself. You may want to close with a hymn of praise and I have included a number for
this purpose (or you may choose your own.)

My God bless you and may He open your eyes to the wonderful truth that every day may be spent in
the glorious worship and praise of God, irrespective of our own circumstances of life, because of who
God is and what He has done.

(For other aids in your personal devotional life go to our website at www.gciweb.org where all
materials and downloads are provided free of charge.)
QUIET TIMES ALONE WITH GOD
JEREMIAH 15:16
THEME: Worship and Adoration
PASSAGE FOR MEDITATION: PSALM 2:11 & 12
What does this passage teach me about Worship and Adoration?

When I reflect on this passage, does it primarily convict, encourage or challenge me? Explain why:

How will I apply this passage to my life in the coming week and is there anything I can do today to make this passage
a part of my Christian life?

PASSAGE FOR MEDITATION: PSALM 148:11 - 13
What does this passage teach me about Worship and Adoration?

When I reflect on this passage, does it primarily convict, encourage or challenge me? Explain why:

How will I apply this passage to my life in the coming week and is there anything I can do today to make this passage
a part of my Christian life?

PASSAGE FOR MEDITATION: PSALM 29:1 & 2
What does this passage teach me about Worship and Adoration?

When I reflect on this passage, does it primarily convict, encourage or challenge me? Explain why:

How will I apply this passage to my life in the coming week and is there anything I can do today to make this passage
a part of my Christian life?

Reflect back on the last three days of Quiet Times Alone With God. In the space below record briefly what God has been
impressing on your heart from His Word...
QUIET TIMES ALONE WITH GOD
JEREMIAH 15:16
THEME: Worship and Adoration
PASSAGE FOR MEDITATION: Psalm 95:1 - 7
What does this passage teach me about Worship and Adoration?

When I reflect on this passage, does it primarily convict, encourage or challenge me? Explain why:

How will I apply this passage to my life in the coming week and is there anything I can do today to make this passage
a part of my Christian life?

PASSAGE FOR MEDITATION: Psalm 68:1 - 4
What does this passage teach me about Worship and Adoration?

When I reflect on this passage, does it primarily convict, encourage or challenge me? Explain why:

How will I apply this passage to my life in the coming week and is there anything I can do today to make this passage
a part of my Christian life?

PASSAGE FOR MEDITATION: I Chronicles 23:30; Psalm 59:16;
What does this passage teach me about Worship and Adoration?

When I reflect on this passage, does it primarily convict, encourage or challenge me? Explain why:

How will I apply this passage to my life in the coming week and is there anything I can do today to make this passage
a part of my Christian life?

Reflect back on the last three days of Quiet Times Alone With God. In the space below record briefly what God has been
impressing on your heart from His Word...
QUIET TIMES ALONE WITH GOD
JEREMIAH 15:16
THEME: Worship and Adoration
PASSAGE FOR MEDITATION: PSALM 8
What does this Psalm teach me about Worship and Adoration?

What attributes of God are revealed to me in this Psalm?

List those actions or attributes of God which especially speak to your heart and then spend time worshiping God for
them.

PASSAGE FOR MEDITATION: PSALM 18
What does this Psalm teach me about Worship and Adoration?

What attributes of God are revealed to me in this Psalm?

List those actions or attributes of God which especially speak to your heart and then spend time worshiping God for
them.

PASSAGE FOR MEDITATION: PSALM 29
What does this Psalm teach me about Worship and Adoration?

What attributes of God are revealed to me in this Psalm?

List those actions or attributes of God which especially speak to your heart and then spend time worshiping God for
them.

Reflect back on your last three days spent in daily meditations upon the Psalms. What type of personal application do you
feel God would have you make in your life? Record it in the space below...
QUIET TIMES ALONE WITH GOD
JEREMIAH 15:16
THEME: Worship and Adoration
PASSAGE FOR MEDITATION: PSALM 30
What does this Psalm teach me about Worship and Adoration?

What attributes of God are revealed to me in this Psalm?

List those actions or attributes of God which especially speak to your heart and then spend time worshiping God for
them.

PASSAGE FOR MEDITATION: PSALM 33
What does this Psalm teach me about Worship and Adoration?

What attributes of God are revealed to me in this Psalm?

List those actions or attributes of God which especially speak to your heart and then spend time worshiping God for
them.

PASSAGE FOR MEDITATION: 47
What does this Psalm teach me about Worship and Adoration?

What attributes of God are revealed to me in this Psalm?

List those actions or attributes of God which especially speak to your heart and then spend time worshiping God for
them.

Reflect back on your last three days spent in daily meditations upon the Psalms. What type of personal application do you
feel God would have you make in your life? Record it in the space below...
QUIET TIMES ALONE WITH GOD
JEREMIAH 15:16
THEME: Worship and Adoration
PASSAGE FOR MEDITATION: PSALM 48
What does this Psalm teach me about Worship and Adoration?

What attributes of God are revealed to me in this Psalm?

List those actions or attributes of God which especially speak to your heart and then spend time worshiping God for
them.

PASSAGE FOR MEDITATION: PSALM 63
What does this Psalm teach me about Worship and Adoration?

What attributes of God are revealed to me in this Psalm?

List those actions or attributes of God which especially speak to your heart and then spend time worshiping God for
them.

PASSAGE FOR MEDITATION: PSALM 65
What does this Psalm teach me about Worship and Adoration?

What attributes of God are revealed to me in this Psalm?

List those actions or attributes of God which especially speak to your heart and then spend time worshiping God for
them.

Reflect back on your last three days spent in daily meditations upon the Psalms. What type of personal application do you
feel God would have you make in your life? Record it in the space below...
QUIET TIMES ALONE WITH GOD
JEREMIAH 15:16
THEME: Worship and Adoration
PASSAGE FOR MEDITATION: PSALM 66
What does this Psalm teach me about Worship and Adoration?

What attributes of God are revealed to me in this Psalm?

List those actions or attributes of God which especially speak to your heart and then spend time worshiping God for
them.

PASSAGE FOR MEDITATION: PSALM 67
What does this Psalm teach me about Worship and Adoration?

What attributes of God are revealed to me in this Psalm?

List those actions or attributes of God which especially speak to your heart and then spend time worshiping God for
them.

PASSAGE FOR MEDITATION: 68
What does this Psalm teach me about Worship and Adoration?

What attributes of God are revealed to me in this Psalm?

List those actions or attributes of God which especially speak to your heart and then spend time worshiping God for
them.

Reflect back on your last three days spent in daily meditations upon the Psalms. What type of personal application do you
feel God would have you make in your life? Record it in the space below...
QUIET TIMES ALONE WITH GOD
JEREMIAH 15:16
THEME: Worship and Adoration
PASSAGE FOR MEDITATION: PSALM 84
What does this Psalm teach me about Worship and Adoration?

What attributes of God are revealed to me in this Psalm?

List those actions or attributes of God which especially speak to your heart and then spend time worshiping God for
them.

PASSAGE FOR MEDITATION: PSALM 89
What does this Psalm teach me about Worship and Adoration?

What attributes of God are revealed to me in this Psalm?

List those actions or attributes of God which especially speak to your heart and then spend time worshiping God for
them.

PASSAGE FOR MEDITATION: PSALM 92
What does this Psalm teach me about Worship and Adoration?

What attributes of God are revealed to me in this Psalm?

List those actions or attributes of God which especially speak to your heart and then spend time worshiping God for
them.

Reflect back on your last three days spent in daily meditations upon the Psalms. What type of personal application do you
feel God would have you make in your life? Record it in the space below...
QUIET TIMES ALONE WITH GOD
JEREMIAH 15:16
THEME: Worship and Adoration
PASSAGE FOR MEDITATION: PSALM 93
What does this Psalm teach me about Worship and Adoration?

What attributes of God are revealed to me in this Psalm?

List those actions or attributes of God which especially speak to your heart and then spend time worshiping God for
them.

PASSAGE FOR MEDITATION: PSALM 95
What does this Psalm teach me about Worship and Adoration?

What attributes of God are revealed to me in this Psalm?

List those actions or attributes of God which especially speak to your heart and then spend time worshiping God for
them.

PASSAGE FOR MEDITATION: 96
What does this Psalm teach me about Worship and Adoration?

What attributes of God are revealed to me in this Psalm?

List those actions or attributes of God which especially speak to your heart and then spend time worshiping God for
them.

Reflect back on your last three days spent in daily meditations upon the Psalms. What type of personal application do you
feel God would have you make in your life? Record it in the space below...