Two Sides of Adoration

Richard Foster writes that there are two sides to the Prayer of Adoration: thanksgiving and praise. When we offer thanksgiving we are giving God the glory for what God has done for us; when we offer praise we are giving God the glory for who God is. It's amazing how often we still arrange for the world to revolve around us, even in our attempts to lift God's name in prayer. It is certainly right to offer thanksgivings, to promote the works of God in our lives, but do we mainly see God's intercessions when they are evident in our own journey, or can we appreciate God's creative influence in places which we cannot even pronounce, in spaces we cannot even see?

The prayer of adoration must be learned. It does not come automatically. Notice our own children! They do not need to be trained to ask for things... but to express thanks? That is a wholly different matter. What endless effort it takes to help our children cultivate a habit of gratitude. - Foster

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, Our lives are filled with blessings, and if we are honest, we know that we are not able to manufacture these on our own, but through your continued guidance and grace. Once we realize our indebtedness then we can acknowledge your presence and activity in our lives. We can appreciate the small, daily intercessions until we begin to recognize that your ways and rules are constantly a part of our journey side by side. It is not my journey, but our journey. It is an excursion that leads us away from our inward selves, that rotates our gaze, turning our faces, until we are looking and moving in the world. We are thankful for the changes in our lives and we are amazed at the revelations of your grace in the world. We are able to walk with a magnifying glass and see the smallest details made evident. We cry out, "O God! How magnificent are your ways!" We cannot help but offer praise to the One who is Lord of all. Once we begin our humble "stepping stones" into the river of grace, we are surrounded by your mercy and filled with adoration. Amen