This is the Christmas carol with the chorus: “Glooooh- ooooooooh-oooooh-oooooria in excelsis Deo.” Ever wonder what you were singing?
“Gloria in excelsis Deo” is Latin for “Glory to God in the highest.”
So often we praise God for answered prayer or we thank Him for things that He has done for us. This carol reminds us that there is more to worship.
Teaching new believers about the faith often reminds me of the oft forgotten basics. For instance, when I teach someone about prayer, I define four categories (or types) of prayer: adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication (our requests). All together, they can be recalled with the acrostic A.C.T.S.
The last three types come more naturally (as natural as prayer comes), but it takes an intentional effort to give God adoration. The things we pray during this time are things that are true about God and would be even if we never existed. Including a time of adoration in our prayer lives tightens our perspective of God, causing us to look beyond ourselves to find out more about Him.
Take some time today to tell God what you know about Him and about His character. Read in Psalms if you need some examples of adoration prayers. Give glory to God in the highest!
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