Supercharge Your Prayers with Vertical Worship

We all know prayer is powerful, but what if you could take your prayers to the next level? What if you could experience a deeper connection with God and see even more amazing results? That’s the potential of combining prayer with vertical worship.

The Lord’s Prayer: A Vertical Worship Template

Jesus gave us the Lord’s Prayer as a model, not just for what to pray, but how to pray. And when we break it down, we see it’s a beautiful example of vertical worship in action. Let’s explore its elements:

• “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”
  • This is vertical worship right out of the gate! Jesus directs our attention immediately to God, acknowledging His holiness and reverence. It’s not just “God exists” but “You, God, are holy.”
  • Psalm 96:9: “Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.”
    • Commentary: This verse emphasizes the awe-inspiring nature of God’s holiness, a key aspect of vertical worship.
• “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
  • Here, we express our desire for God’s will and reign. We are acknowledging His sovereignty and our submission to Him.
  • Psalm 103:19: “The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.”
    • Commentary: This speaks of God’s sovereign rule – a rule we acknowledge and submit to in vertical worship.
• “Give us today our daily bread.”
  • Even in our requests, there’s an element of vertical worship. We acknowledge our dependence on God and His provision.
  • Psalm 145:16: “You open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.”
    • Commentary: This psalm speaks of God’s provision and care for His creation, a reason for worshipful prayer.

• “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
  • Confession is a vital part of vertical worship. We acknowledge our sinfulness and God’s holiness and seek His forgiveness.
  • 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
    • Commentary: This verse assures us of God’s willingness to forgive, which prompts a heart of gratitude and worship.
• “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
  • We recognize our vulnerability and God’s protective power. This is vertical reliance.
  • Psalm 121:7-8: “The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”
    • Commentary: This psalm expresses trust in God’s protection, an important aspect of vertical worship in prayer.
• “For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
  • The prayer concludes with pure vertical worship, ascribing all glory, honor, and power to God.
  • Revelation 5:13: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”
    • Commentary: This verse echoes the ending of the Lord’s Prayer, emphasizing that worship is the ultimate goal of prayer.

Supercharging Your Prayers

So how can we use this template to supercharge our prayers? Here are some key takeaways:

• Begin with adoration: Start by going vertical with your worship. Focus on who God is, not just what He can do for you. Acknowledge His holiness, His power, His love.
• Declare His will: Align your prayers with God’s purposes. Pray for His kingdom to come and His will to be done.
• Express dependence: Acknowledge your need for God’s provision and guidance.
• Confess and receive forgiveness: Honestly address your sins and receive His grace.
• Trust in His protection: Rely on God’s power to keep you safe from harm.
• End with exaltation: Conclude your prayers by giving God all the glory and praise.

When we pray in this way, we’re not just listing our requests; we’re entering into a conversation with God that is both powerful and transformative. Vertical worship supercharges our prayers, making them more effective, more intimate, and more aligned with God’s heart.