In the scriptures,
We are told to glorify God and to praise the Lord with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving.
Prophets have seen visions where the heavens have opened and numberless concourses of angels are singing and praising their God.
Now,
I have said countless prayers of gratitude for my many blessings and for the love and mercy of God,
But I didn't quite understand the scenes I've just described.
Why would angels want to sit praising all day?
And why would God want them to?
After all,
He doesn't need worshiping fans.
In fact,
His love and humble nature would lead me to think the opposite.
I didn't understand.
I do now.
I was missing something key.
God's work in His glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
He doesn't ask us to do anything save it be for our benefit.
Praising is not something I was used to doing with words.
Typically in the church,
It's more often done through song,
And I have felt my heart filled as I have participated in praise this way.
But as I have practiced praise daily before I pray in preparation to converse with God,
My heart and soul have expanded as I have been filled with love for Christ.
I praise Him for His majesty and power and might.
I praise Him for His glory and light,
For His condescension.
I praise Him for willingly coming to this earth as a mortal,
For His life and example.
I praise Him for His miracles and His teachings,
For His atonement and His suffering on the cross for my sins.
I praise Him for His resurrection and for breaking the bonds of death.
I praise Him for His love for me,
One who is so unworthy but exceedingly grateful.
I am always overwhelmed that that being loves me,
And it's rare that I don't finish without tears streaming down my face.
I am so filled with the love I feel for Jesus Christ,
And I feel His pure love for me in return.
And then my heart is prepared to talk and to listen.
When we praise the Savior for who He is,
He is able to magnify that love in a way only He can.
He has no need for our honors,
But praising Him can be a vehicle for us to feel the magnitude of His love and what He has sacrificed.
As I hope you'll feel in this meditation,
When we are in the attitude of praising God,
We can feel this all-consuming love for Him.
Praising God for who He is and all that He has done opens our hearts to love from Him,
Which prepares us to really commune.
So if it feels comfortable,
I invite you to close your eyes,
Find a comfortable position,
Notice any place in your body that feels tight,
Calling awareness to it and seeing if doing so releases tension.
Taking a deep breath in,
Opening your senses.
Feel the breath in your nose.
Feel the energy moving through your body.
Breathe out and relax.
Breathing out any tension or tightness you may feel.
Breathing in and creating space around your heart,
Throughout your body.
Breathing out and just letting your body sit however it feels most comfortable.
Just being here right now.
Now,
Inviting the Lord into this place with you,
Imagining He's there with you.
He may be standing at a distance,
Filling your space with light.
He may be next to you,
Putting His arm around you,
Holding you in an embrace.
Wherever He is,
Is perfect.
Just inviting Him in to wherever you are.
Alma 26 16 reads,
Therefore let us glory.
Yea,
We will glory in the Lord.
Yea,
We will rejoice for our joy is full.
Yea,
We will praise our God forever.
Behold,
Who can glory too much in the Lord?
I invite you to repeat these words in your mind or perhaps from your heart as I say them.
I praise Thee for who Thou art,
For Thy omnipotence,
Thy glory,
Thy power,
Majesty,
And might.
I praise Thee for all of Thy creations,
For a world without end,
And for the beauty of the earth.
I praise Thee for Thy condescension,
For coming to earth as a powerless infant,
And submitting to the will of the Father in all things.
I praise Thee for Thy life and example,
For Thy miracles and teachings,
For showing me the way to live and return to Thee.
I praise Thee for Thy suffering in the garden of Gethsemane,
That caused even Thee,
The Savior of the world,
To bleed from every pore.
I praise Thee for taking my sins and suffering upon Thee,
That I might be made whole.
I praise Thee for Thy suffering and death on the cross,
And the pain that Thou endured for me.
I praise Thee for Thy resurrection,
For breaking the bands of death,
That I might live with Thee again someday.
I praise Thee for Thy infinite love for me,
A love that fills my whole heart and soul.
All glory,
Honor,
And praise be to Thee.
Breathing in love and gratitude for the Lord.
And when you are ready,
I invite you to come back into the room.
Wiggling fingers and toes,
Smiling and opening your eyes.
