Rev Hooker’s Bible Study on Unselfish Prayer Session 3—Preoccupation with Praise: Revelation 4 and Ezra 3

Session 3—Preoccupation with Praise: Revelation 4 and Ezra 3 A. Prayers of Praise and Thanksgiving B. Praise as Expression of the Body C. Praise in Hymns and Songs D. Praise in Poetry and Literature V. Session 4—Good to Give Thanks: Psalm 92 and 1 Thessalonians 5 E. Praise in Scripture Rather than pleading with God, asking favors of God, or making demands on God—which are prayer staples for most people—prayers of cele- bration should be the dominant prayers in our lives. The two primary types of celebratory prayers are prayers of praise and prayers of thanksgiving. This session deals with praise, the following session will deal with thanks- giving. Praise is any expression of admiration and awe for who God is. Thus, a prayer of praise is any and every expression of admiration and awe for who God is. Praise is preoccupation with God’s essence and wonderment that God would have anything at all to do with us. Praise is standing, sitting, kneeling, or lifting one’s face and arms out of reverence in the presence of the one true and living God. Praise is a silent or public proclamation of God’s great power and glory, continually and consistent- ly conveyed through divine expressions of loving, creat- ing, and liberating all life in the universe.