Why should we pray? Part 4

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He requires worship

Webster’s dictionary defines worship in this way. Worship is commonly defined as follows (1) Noun- 1. The feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity. 2. Adoration or devotion comparable to religious homage, shown toward a person or principle. (2) Verb- 1. Show reverence and adoration for (a deity); honor with religious rites. 2. Treat (someone or something) with the reverence and adoration appropriate to a deity 3. Take part in a religious ceremony. Worship is a noun because it represents how we feel about God, it gives an account of our adoration of him. It is a verb because it describes what we do in reverence of him. If you take a look at how most of the prophets began their prayer, you will discover they began with exaltation. This exaltation begins the worship.  We worship him when we verbally acknowledge that he is all powerful, all knowing, and always present.  We deepen our worship with the action of keeping the two greatest commandments, as he instructed.
Surely if we live our lives contrary to the Word of God, we are not worshipping him. For example, Mark 7:6-7 says, the people can be hypocrites in their daily walk. It says, people honored God with their lips, but their heart is far away from him. Mark further explains that there was a people that worshiped God in vain, that they taught doctrines and precepts of men, contrary to what God required. But in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men. These are not mistakes we want to make in our day walk. Everything we do, each day, every step we take in our daily walk, is a depiction of our worship. Joshua said it best when he said verse 24:15,

“ [highlight type=”light”]And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.[/highlight] ”

When we live according to Galatians 5: 22-23, practicing the fruits of the spirit, practicing love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance; we worship him. Our actions worship him.When Jesus gave instructions on how to pray, he began by worshipping the Father.

“ [highlight type=”light”]Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.[/highlight] ” Matthew 6:9-10.

In prayer we lift God up and reaffirm how great and holy is. In prayer we voice our gratitude and thank him for blessings we enjoy. In prayer we ask for forgiveness for our sins and errors we have made. In prayer we acknowledge that God can do all things as we make supplications and requests. In prayer is how we exalt him and worship at his footstool.

Prayer is one way we show we trust God. It is one way we acknowledge we are in a personal relationship with him. Bringing our issues to God in prayer and believing that he can help us work through them is a way to engage him our lives. It allows God to dig for the deep desires of our hearts. It also allows him to dig for those presumptuous sins, brings them to our light, affords us the opportunity to clean them up, and gives us a better chance of being a part of that common salvation discussed earlier. All this is part of worship.

[highlight type=”light”].,God is omnipotent[/highlight]

[highlight type=”light”]..,God is omnipresent[/highlight]

[highlight type=”light”]..,God is omniscient [/highlight]