praying effectively: Clap Your Hands (Ps.47)

(Psalm 47:1-9)

 O clap your hands, all peoples; shout to God with the voice of joy.
2 For the Lord Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth.
3 He subdues peoples under us and nations under our feet.
4 He chooses our inheritance for us, the glory of Jacob whom He loves. Selah.

5 God has ascended with a shout, the Lord, with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a skillful psalm.
8 God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne.
9 The princes of the people have assembled themselves as the people of the God of Abraham, for the shields of the earth belong to God; He is highly exalted.

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:
- that we fear the Lord Most High (47:2)
- that we clap our hands (47:1)
- that we shout to God with a voice of joy (47:1)
- that we sing praises to God (47:6-7)
- that we sing praises with skillful, meaningful lyrics (47:7)

Today's prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, please put worthy songs of praise in our hearts!  Help us not to feel afraid, embarrassed or inhibited to freely and joyfully express our praises to You.  You deserve our very best.  You more than deserve our all.  Thank You so very much for everything You have done for us, everything You are doing, and everything You are going to do.  Amen.