I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.

Psalm 7:17

Nowhere in the Bible do we find prayers like many of us pray—prayers that are more wishlist than worship, more asking for things we want than adoration of our holy God. When the focus of our prayers becomes nothing more than a list of wants, it is easy to see God as only a giver  of gifts. All wants and no worship leads us to see God as a withholder of good things rather than the generous Father that He is. And when our hearts are constantly focused on the disappointments, bitterness easily takes up residence in our hearts and pushes gratitude and praise right on out. 

The Book of Psalms, Israel’s hymn book, is a book of praises. It is a songbook where God is the focus, not the ones doing the praising. Throughout the psalms, we see prayers of adoration sandwiched between cries of desperation. We see suffering and struggle followed immediately by thankfulness and praise. The psalmists praised God for the way He worked in their lives and for His constant presence in the midst of their suffering. They praised God for the hope they had in Him regardless of their circumstances. In the psalms, we see why to worship God, we see how to worship God, and we see beautiful examples of passionate, powerful, practical praises to God. 

Rather than rattling off your wishlist before God, praise Him! Reflect on all the ways He is working in your life, and thank Him for the countless blessings He has already given. Set your heart not on your wants, but on what you already know about God: His character, His heart, His faithfulness and love. And even in the midst of struggle, loneliness, and fear, like the psalmists, bow down before your Heavenly Father. Stand in awe of your great and holy God! And by all means, shout for joy to the Lord! When your prayers shift away from all the gimmes and toward His goodness and glory, your heart will shift, too. Then gratitude and praise will take up residence in your heart and push any bitterness right on out. You are loved!