Psalm 29 Ascribe to the Lord Glory

In my early years as a Christian, I developed a bad habit in my prayer life. I used to come to God and just blurt out all my needs. It is not wrong to ask for what I need, but I had not developed the habit to ascribe glory to the Lord. I was treating him as a messenger boy to go out and run some errands for me. I was approaching God with a "gimme" attitude that is selfish to say the least.

When I realize who is the God that I approach, my attitude is changed. I stop treating him like a messenger and start realizing that I'm standing before a God of glory and strength who deserves all the honor and praise a human being can offer. Actually, according to the psalmist, he deserves all the glory, honor, and praise that the heavenly beings can muster as well. 

"Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name." All our worship and adoration to God is not wasted. It is not exaggerated either. He deserves it all. It is due his name. In others words, it is expected. We could spend the rest of our lives, every minute of it, just ascribing glory to God and it would not be overdoing it at all. The love language that God understands is worship to his great name.

The Lord is enthroned above as King of kings and Lord of lords. He is not enthroned for a little time, but he is enthroned forever. Everything on earth is under his control and subject to his powers. The whole of creation is subject to him including my life and not the other way around. 

For this reason, now I always begin prayer ascribing glory to the Lord before anything else. When he taught his disciples to pray, he began with "Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be your name." I must learn to honor as holy the name of God and give him praise and glory before I attempt to present my list of needs. Then, it is proper to pray: "May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace."

Father, you are the awesome and benevolent Creator of all that exists, including my own life. You are the divine, eternal, forgiving, gracious, holy, invisible, just, kind, loving, and merciful God. There is no one and there is nothing like you. Amen.