“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.” Psalm 100:4
Do you start your prayers by telling God what you want Him to do? The Bible does tell us to bring our needs and desires to the Lord, but there’s more to prayer than asking Him to meet our needs. The psalmist says that we should enter God’s presence with thanksgiving and praise. If you’re not sure where to start, this short psalm can help.
The names of God reveal His character and direct our praise; and Psalm 100 is full of examples. When we praise Him as our King, we serve Him gladly and joyfully (v2). We can also praise Him as our Creator and Shepherd (v3). Since He designed us, He knows what’s best for us. We are most safe and secure when following Him closely, as sheep do their shepherd.
The psalmist also describes God’s character as good, loving, and faithful. The fact that these qualities are everlasting and to all generations points to His eternal nature (v5). In other words, His lovingkindness is just as present in your life as it was in the lives of Old Testament saints and first century believers. It also means that His faithfulness will extend beyond your lifetime to your children, grandchildren, and so on.
In other parts of the Bible we learn that God is our Rock, Refuge, and Shield. He is long-suffering, gentle, kind, and true. But above all, He is holy. You see, starting our prayers with praise puts us in an attitude of worship. And we present our requests differently in an attitude of worship than we do with an attitude of entitlement. Praising His character reminds us that He is fully capable of handling the details of our lives; and that He is trustworthy to do so.
Prayer isn’t an activity to accomplish as a religious exercise. It’s intimate communication between God and His children. So, our prayers shouldn’t be thoughtless or rushed. How often do you take time for praise in your prayers? Read back through the five verses of Psalm 100 as a prayer. Let it prompt you to, “Give thanks to Him [and] bless His name.” If you look for the names and nature of God in every passage you read, you’ll always find a reason to start your prayers with praise. It will change how you ask and maybe even what you ask.