Doxology

What if I were to say that prayer itself is essentially a doxology?  It is an utterance of glory to God for His attributes.  Do I ask Him to bless me?  Then I adore His power, for I believe He can.  Do I ask Him to bless me?  Then I adore His mercy, for I trust and hope He will.  Do I ask Him to bless me because of such and such a promise?  Then I adore His faithfulness, for I evidently believe He is truthful and does as He has said.  Do I ask Him to bless me not according to my request but according to His own wisdom?  Then I adore His wisdom; I am evidently believing in His prudence and judgment.  When I say to Him, “Not my will but Thine be done,” I am adoring His sovereignty.  When I confess that I deserve to suffer under His hand, I have reverence for His justice.  When I acknowledge that He always does right, I adore His holiness.  When I humbly say, “Nevertheless, deal graciously with me and blot out my transgressions,” I am reverencing His grace.  We do not wonder, therefore, that through Jesus Christ the prayers of the saints should be precious to God, since they are an eminently practical homage to the Supreme.

–C. H. Spurgeon