Father I Adore You 1 Chronicles 29:11-14; Psalm 150:1-2
Introduction Part 3 of series Connecting with God What does this mean? Connecting with God begins with a personal relationship with Him If you want to connect with your Heavenly Father you must be His child Once you become His child, you connect with Him through prayer
MY FATHER S LOVE I must stay connected to my Father through prayer He gives to all His children who ask Embrace His love for what it is Recognize our need/dependence on Him Grasp He is the source of all I need Cry out to Him in prayer Sounds easy, right?
Adoration Confession Thanksgiving Supplication
There is one key issue that keeps this from being easy: So many believers struggle with this
James Hudson Taylor wrote this: "I am so weak that I can hardly write, I cannot read my bible, I cannot even pray. I can only lie in God's arms like a little child, and trust." If we are really going to trust like that, we must begin by focusing on God s character and attributes
We begin with adoration What is ADORATION? Focus and celebration of the character and attributes of God It is all about who God is It s all about Him Let s look at our text
1 Chronicles 29:11-14 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great
1 Chronicles 29:11-14 and to give strength to all. Now therefore, our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name. But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, and of Your own we have given You.
Why we start prayer with ADORATION Our understanding of who God is will affect how or if we choose to pray In times of trouble, our problems may seem bigger than God In times of trouble, we may feel he has abandoned us or it s our fault In the good times we may feel we really don t need Him
Why we start prayer with ADORATION Yours, O Lord, is the greatness all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours There is nothing too difficult for Him Everything belongs to Him, so we need Him even in the good times There s another reason to start here
Why we start prayer with ADORATION Starting with who God is changes our focus from our needs or problems to Him Our burdens can be so big, we can t even begin to see God or know where to start Changing our focus makes it easier to trust Him like James Hudson Taylor We are reminded that He alone offers peace through the storm
Why we start prayer with ADORATION Focusing on who God is puts our needs or issues in the right perspective Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head over all God is bigger than our needs or problems God can handle them with ease because He is Head over all
Why we start prayer with ADORATION Focusing on who God is puts our needs or issues in the right perspective We realize that God Himself is more important than what He can do for us Prayer is not reaching for the things in the hand of God, but reaching for the hand of God. (Oswald Chambers) God is enough!
Why we start prayer with ADORATION Focusing on who God is helps us to come to Him even when we have sinned against Him We are reminded of His love for us We are reminded of His mercy and grace We are reminded of His desire to restore the relationship with Him
How do we do this? Praise His power and majesty Tell God how much you appreciate Him Express your love for Him Express your trust in him What if you re overwhelmed, or angry, or hurt, or feel abandoned? Be honest with Him and transition to ADORATION (what David did in Psalms)
Psalm 42:11(ESV) Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God!
How do we do this? Most important thing is to do it! What if you just don t feel like it? Do it anyway Adoration is not about how you feel Remember it is about God He will meet you where you are
Psalm 150:1-2 Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
Let s try it right now I want you to think about what is it about God that means the most to you right now? Or what is it about God that you need the most right now? What characteristic or attribute of God comes to your mind? Let s do it right now
I will praise you O Lord with all that I am in all circumstances for You O Lord are awesome and worthy of my praise.
Conclusion Begin connecting with God through adoration Our understanding of who God is will affect how or if we choose to pray Starting with who God is changes our focus from needs or problems to Him Focusing on who God is puts our needs or issues in the right perspective
What about you are you connecting with God today?