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Giving Credit to God in Prayer and Worship

Giving credit to God in prayer and worship is a fundamental aspect of Christian faith, encompassing acts of thanksgiving, praise, and glorification. This practice is rooted in biblical commands and examples, emphasizing God's worthiness of such honor [1, 3, 5, 6].

Prayer itself is understood as direct address to God, an "intercourse of the soul with God" [7]. It involves various expressions such as bowing the knees, looking up, lifting up the soul or heart, pouring out the heart or soul, calling upon the Lord's name, and crying to God [2, 7]. The Bible commands prayer, instructing believers to seek God and make supplication [2, 7]. Access to God in prayer is granted through Christ and by the Holy Spirit, obtained through faith, and follows reconciliation with God [4]. This access is a privilege of saints, who can approach God with confidence [4].

Thanksgiving is a specific form of giving credit to God, commanded in scripture [3]. Psalm 50:14 states, "Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving" [1]. This act is considered a "good thing" [3]. Jesus himself set an example of thanksgiving, as seen in his actions before meals and in moments of prayer [3]. The heavenly host also engages in thanksgiving [3]. Believers are called to offer thanksgiving to God, and to Christ, through Christ, and in the name of Christ [3]. This should occur in private and public worship, in all circumstances, and even before taking food [3]. Matthew Henry notes that thanksgiving is a "poor return for rich receivings," acknowledging God as a "bountiful benefactor" [10].

Praise is another essential element of giving credit to God. God is deemed worthy of praise due to His majesty, glory, excellency, greatness, holiness, wisdom, power, goodness, mercy, and loving-kindness [5]. Christ is also worthy of praise [5]. Praise glorifies God and is acceptable through Christ [5, 6]. It is a duty for "great men of the earth" to pay homage to God through praise [12].

Glorifying God is closely linked to praise and thanksgiving. It is commanded and is due to God for His holiness, mercy, truth, faithfulness, wondrous works, judgments, and deliverance [6]. The obligation to glorify God extends to saints [6]. Christ himself provided an example of glorifying God [6]. This glorification is accomplished by relying on God's promises, praising Him, and doing all things for His glory [6]. It is acceptable through Christ [6].

The Lord's Prayer, given by Jesus as a model for prayer, begins with the petition, "may your name be kept holy" (Matthew 6:9) [8]. This phrase underscores the importance of honoring and revering God's name, which can be profaned by the sin of His people [8]. This prayer, while similar in form to common Jewish prayers, is a succinct expression of new faith and a model of simplicity, contrasting with "vain repetition" [8].

The New Testament further emphasizes the role of Christ in enabling believers to give credit to God. Access to God is "by Christ" and "through Christ" [4]. Prayer is offered "through Christ" [2], and thanksgiving is offered "through Christ" and "in the name of Christ" [3]. Praise is acceptable "through Christ" [5], and glorifying God is acceptable "through Christ" [6]. The Holy Spirit also facilitates access to God [4]. This Trinitarian understanding highlights that all worship and credit given to God the Father is mediated through the Son and empowered by the Spirit.

The concept of "calling on the Lord" is frequently mentioned in scripture as an act of devotion and seeking God [2, 9]. This phrase is used in various contexts, including Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21, and Romans 10:12-13 [9]. Those who call on the Lord are often described as doing so "with pure hearts" [9].

Giving credit to God also involves practical actions. Adam Clarke notes that "to do good and to communicate" are "continual sacrifices which God requires" [11]. These acts, stemming from a sense of God's love in Christ, are coupled with "praise, prayer, and thanksgiving to God" and "works of charity and mercy to man" as the sacrifices expected of a genuine follower of Christ [11]. This suggests that giving credit to God is not merely verbal but also demonstrated through righteous living and service to others.

The emphasis on giving credit to God is pervasive throughout biblical texts and theological traditions. It is a response to God's character and actions, acknowledging His sovereignty, goodness, and redemptive work. This practice is not only commanded but also exemplified by Christ and the heavenly host, establishing it as a central and enduring aspect of faith [3].

Sources

  1. Psalms “Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Pay your vows to the Most High. -- Psalms 50:14”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prayer — Commanded -- Isa 55:6; Mt 7:7; Php 4:6. To be offered To God. -- Ps 5:2; Mt 4:10. To Christ. -- Lu 23:42; Ac 7:59. To the Holy Spirit. -- 2Th 3:5. Through Christ. -- Eph 2:18; Heb 10:19. God hears -- Ps 10:17; 65:2. God answers -- Ps 99:6; Isa 58:9. Is described as Bowing the knees. -- Eph 3:14. Looking up. -- Ps 5:3. Lifting up the soul. -- Ps 25:1. Lifting up the heart. -- La 3:41. Pouring out the heart. -- Ps 62:8. Pouring out the soul. -- 1Sa 1:15. Calling upon the name of the Lord. -- Ge 12:8; Ps 116:4; Ac 22:16. Crying to God. -- Ps 27:7; 34:6. Drawing”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Thanksgiving — Christ set an example of -- Mt 11:25; 26:27; Joh 6:11; 11:41. The heavenly host engaged in -- Re 4:9; 7:11,12; 11:16,17. Commanded -- Ps 50:14; Php 4:6. Is a good thing -- Ps 92:1. Should be offered To God. -- Ps 50:14. To Christ. -- 1Ti 1:12. Through Christ. -- Ro 1:8; Col 3:17; Heb 13:15. In the name of Christ. -- Eph 5:20. In behalf of ministers. -- 2Co 1:11. In private worship. -- Da 6:10. In public worship. -- Ps 35:18. In everything. -- 1Th 5:18. Upon the completion of great undertakings. -- Ne 12:31,40. Before taking food. -- Joh 6:11; Ac 27:35.”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Access to God — Is of God -- Ps 65:4. Is by Christ -- Joh 10:7, 9; 14:6; Ro 5:2; Eph 2:13; 3:12; Heb 7:9, 25; 10:19; 1Pe 3:18. Is by the Holy Spirit -- Eph 2:18. Obtained through faith -- Ac 14:27; Ro 5:2; Eph 3:12; Heb 11:6. Follows upon reconciliation to God -- Col 1:21,22. In Prayer -- See Prayer. De 4:7; Mt 6:6; 1Pe 1:17. In his temple -- Ps 15:1; 27:4; 43:3; 65:4. To obtain mercy and grace -- Heb 4:16. A privilege of saints -- De 4:7; Ps 15:1; 23:6; 24:3,4. Saints have, with confidence -- Eph 3:12; Heb 4:16; 10:19,20. Vouchsafed to repenting sinners -- See Repen”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Praise — God is worthy of -- 2Sa 22:4. Christ is worthy of -- Re 5:12. God is glorified by -- Ps 22:23; 50:23. Offered to Christ -- Joh 12:13. Acceptable through Christ -- Heb 13:15. Is due to God on account of His majesty. -- Ps 96:1,6; Isa 24:14. His glory. -- Ps 138:5; Eze 3:12. His excellency. -- Ex 15:7; Ps 148:13. His greatness. -- 1Ch 16:25; Ps 145:3. His holiness. -- Ex 15:11; Isa 6:3. His wisdom. -- Da 2:20; Jude 1:25. His power. -- Ps 21:13. His goodness. -- Ps 107:8; 118:1; 136:1; Jer 33:11. His mercy. -- 2Ch 20:21; Ps 89:1; 118:1-4; 136:1-26. His loving-k”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Glorifying God — Commanded -- 1Ch 16:28; Ps 22:23; Isa 42:12. Due to him -- 1Ch 16:29. For his Holiness. -- Ps 99:9; Re 15:4. Mercy and truth. -- Ps 115:1; Ro 15:9. Faithfulness and truth. -- Isa 25:1. Wondrous works. -- Mt 15:31; Ac 4:21. Judgments. -- Isa 25:3; Eze 28:22; Re 14:7. Deliverance. -- Ps 50:15. Grace to others. -- Ac 11:18; 2Co 9:13; Ga 1:24. Obligation of saints to -- 1Co 6:20. Is acceptable through Christ -- Php 1:11; 1Pe 4:11. Christ, an example of -- Joh 17:4. Accomplished by Relying on his promises. -- Ro 4:20. Praising him. -- Ps 50:23. Doing all ”
  7. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Prayer — Is converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant, ejaculatory or formal. It is a "beseeching the Lord" (Ex. 32:11); "pouring out the soul before the Lord" (1 Sam. 1:15); "praying and crying to heaven" (2 Chr. 32:20); "seeking unto God and making supplication" (Job 8:5); "drawing near to God" (Ps. 73:28); "bowing the knees" (Eph. 3:14). Prayer presupposes a belief in the personality of God, his ability and willingness to hold inter”
  8. Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 6:9: 6:9-13 The Lord’s Prayer is similar in form to a common Jewish prayer (the qaddish). Jesus gave this prayer to his followers as a succinct expression of their new faith. 6:9 Pray like this: In contrast to the vain repetition of pagan prayers (6:7-8), “the Lord’s Prayer” is a model of simplicity. • Jews rarely addressed God as Father, but Jesus did so in every prayer but one (Mark 15:34). • may your name be kept holy: God’s name is profaned by the sin of his people (Isa 29:22-24; Jer 34:15-16; Ezek 39:7; Amos 2:7).”
  9. 2 Timothy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Timothy 2:22: 2:22 those who call on the Lord: Cp. Ps 99:6; Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21; 9:14, 21; 22:16; Rom 10:12-13; 1 Cor 1:2. • with pure hearts: Cp. 1 Tim 1:5.”
  10. Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 105:1: Our devotion is here warmly excited; and we are stirred up, that we may stir up ourselves to praise God. Observe, I. The duties to which we are here called, and they are many, but the tendency of them all is to give unto God the glory due unto his name. 1. We must give thanks to him, as one who has always been our bountiful benefactor and requires only that we give him thanks for his favours - poor returns for rich receivings. 2. Call upon his name, as one whom you depend upon for further favours. Praying for further mercies is accepted as an acknowledgment of fo”
  11. Hebrews (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Hebrews 13:16: But to do good and to communicate - These are continual sacrifices which God requires, and which will spring from a sense of God's love in Christ Jesus. Praise to God for his unspeakable gift, and acts of kindness to men for God's sake. No reliance, even on the infinitely meritorious sacrifice of Christ, can be acceptable in the sight of God if a man have not love and charity towards his neighbor. Praise, prayer, and thanksgiving to God, with works of charity and mercy to man, are the sacrifices which every genuine follower of Christ must offer: and they are the p”
  12. Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 29:1: In this psalm we have, I. A demand of the homage of the great men of the earth to be paid to the great God. Every clap of thunder David interpreted as a call to himself and other princes to give glory to the great God. Observe, 1. Who they are that are called to this duty: "O you mighty (Psa 29:1), you sons of the mighty, who have power, and on whom that power is devolved by succession and inheritance, who have royal blood running in your veins!" It is much for the honour of the great God that the men of this world should pay their homage to him; and they are boun”
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