Although God knows what we are going to say when we pray, we must still pray. Yes, we have to pray, because when we hear what we pray, it changes us. We walk away from prayer changed, because our prayer is a conversation with a living God. That’s why it is important not to stop praying. If we do not pray, we miss out, not God.

The same is true for worship. Yes, obviously it is good for God to hear us sing His praises, but it is also very necessary for us to hear it over and over again. While we sing his praises, we get a clear picture of God. We become aware of what He does for us. It helps us push to the top of any steep mountain because we know the greatest and strongest God is on our side. He will never abandon his children and will also not allow anything to get us down.

When we started planning a youth ministry some time ago, I was very nervous. We were going to collaborate with some major organisations. Many arrangements had to be made. Many things could go wrong. We were under extreme time pressure. I was nauseous and lay awake nights.

Suddenly my mind was filled with uncertainty. Fear grabbed hold of me as I lay turning and turning. What if this thing failed? What if no one was interested? What if it went no further than the launch weekend? What of the people we appointed? And so fear found a place in my life.

Fortunately, the Spirit helped me to get a better picture. Not of myself, but of my God. ¹⁵… the Blessed and Undisputed Ruler, High King, High God. ¹⁶He’s the only one death can’t touch, his light so bright no one can get close. He’s never been seen by human eyes—human eyes can’t take him in! Honour to him, and eternal rule! Oh, yes.

Before I started writing, I became quiet to pray. Because I struggle to keep my concentration, I wrote down my prayer. I wrote as follows about God: He is the Greatest, the Almighty who holds all the power in the world. He is the One who made everything. No one is greater than Him and He is the only true God.

And the words started flowing from my pen: He is omnipresent, just, loving, Light in the darkness, Helper, Guide, Holy, the Beginning and the End. He dreams dreams for me and helps me achieve them. Every time I make a wrong choice, He brings heaps of grace and more chances and choices to bring me back to his way.

I wrote a whole lot more.

When I got up, I was different, because my view of God was in complete focus again. I realised that my God is so much greater than my problem or my challenge. I realised that the One who is in control is with me all the time. I realised that what I do or not do has no impact on God’s involvement in my life. Despite what I do and not do, God remains in me. He will not allow the challenge I’m facing to overcome me.

We must sing God’s praises much, much more. Yes, God wants to hear it, but we are the ones that are changed in the process, not God. Now we are able to face the world out there, because our God is always ready to go with us everywhere.

Scripture
Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:13-16

Reflection
How great is your God?
How big a part does He play in your day?
How can you make Him a bigger part of your life?

Prayer
Great God, to You the honour, wonderful it is where You rule. You are in control and You are with me in any crisis. I want to sing about it and be happy. Amen.