The Adoration Challenge

We had a good prayer gathering last night. We focused on our church, the needs of the country, and of our congregation. I came away extremely challenged to work harder at adoration in my prayers. Adoration flows from our heart like the words of a poet writing a sonnet. It is a natural effusion of the love we feel for God. It is entirely relational, intimate, and genuine.

Here is a wonderful example from Psalm 89 from The Message (a translation that seems to super-size adoration whenever it gets a chance), "God! Let the cosmos praise your wonderful ways, the choir of holy angels sing anthems to your faithful ways! Search high and low, scan skies and land, you'll find nothing and no one quite like God. The holy angels are in awe before him; he looms immense and august over everyone around him. God-of-the-Angel-Armies, who is like you, powerful and faithful from every angle? You put the arrogant ocean in its place and calm its waves when they turn unruly. You gave that old hag Egypt the back of your hand, you brushed off your enemies with a flick of your wrist. You own the cosmos—you made everything in it, everything from atom to archangel. You positioned the North and South Poles; the mountains Tabor and Hermon sing duets to you."

Those writing in Psalms or other passages of adoration were artistically adept. They worked at describing their feelings for God like a master chef searched for the perfect ingredients for a gourmet meal. I was challenged to do more to creatively to express my love, awe, and wonder of God.

Maybe you feel incapable of expressing your love adequately. Here are some ideas if you feel adorationally challenged. 1. Read a Psalm to the Lord as if it were your words to him. 2. Sing. Unlike singing to a lover, ability is not required. Just be genuine and, "Sing of his love forever." 3. Do something loving for someone else out of your love for God. Bless someone like God has blessed you. Give a special love offering. But do it all to show your love for God. Let's take the adoration challenge!