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by Judy Dunnett and the members of The Point Church ABW Group, Bathurst, New Brunswick
The theme for this prayer of praise devotion is borrowed from an older The Daily Bread devotion which contained the words “a bouquet of praise,” and is focused on worshipping our awesome God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
PRAISE GOD
For who He is – His character; His attributes
For what great things He has done
For what He is doing now in your life
For blessings He has given you – people, events, abilities, spiritual gifts….
I, along with members of the Point Church Atlantic Baptist Women’s group, have chosen the names of flowers and correlated them with praises in some way, with Bible verses included. You may want to add to each of these prayers of praise with your own thoughts. Rejoice as you rest in the presence of our wonderful Lord.
ROSE – Christ arose! Jesus, I praise you because you are my living Saviour, my REDEEMER. Your immeasurable sacrifice provided my salvation and my hope of eternal life. You have clothed me with your RIGHTEOUSNESS. Praise your name.
Matt. 28:5–6 Psalm 19:14 Rev. 19:6–8 Is. 61:10
FORGET-ME-NOT – O What a FAITHFUL GOD you are. You are steadfast, unchanging, ever present, fulfilling all your promises. My name is written in your Book of Life –FOREVER. Thank You, Jesus.
Psalm 117:2 Psalm 100:5 1 Cor. 1:9
Forget-me-nots also remind us to praise you, Lord, for our church, for we are to be like forget-me-nots; they grow close together and share a common root system. Thank you, God, that our roots are firmly grounded in our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Col. 2:7
ZINNIA – Father, you are a ZEALOUS GOD, always seeking the lost, and always watching over your children. May we be thankful for your care and keeping, always with us in all circumstances.
Is. 59:17
CLEMATIS – Heavenly Father, I praise you as the God of all COMFORT and COMPASSION. Thank you for our peace and rest.
Psalm 89:14 Psalm 145:8-9 1 Cor. 1:3
DANDELIONS – are found everywhere, gracing meadows and pastureland, pestering lawns, peeking through cracks in sidewalks, annoying flowerbeds, but brightening our world with their sunny faces. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for enabling us to shine Christ’s love to the world around us, brightening our space and adding joy to life. And God is omnipresent… Thank you, Lord, for your promise to never leave us or forsake us, giving us great comfort. Quote - “Like wildflowers, you must allow yourself to grow in all the places people thought you never would.”
Prov. 15:3 Col. 1:17 Psalm 139:5–10
LILIES – LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! – Consider the verse, “For God so loved the world…” (John 3:16)
and the hymn, “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us.” We praise You, Lord, for this unfathomable love. May we live in thankfulness. LILIES has several “L’s” – I praise you, Lord, for your love and life.
Psalm 63:3–4 says, “Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.”
LILY OF THE VALLEY represents purity, innocence, and rebirth. We praise you, Father, that we have rebirth because of Christ saving us and making a way for us to spend eternity with you. What a precious hope we have in Jesus Christ.
John 3:3
WATER LILY – is a symbol of love, purity, majesty, rebirth, and beauty, all reminding us of who Jesus is. Praise You, Father, for your perfect Son. The quiet beauty and serenity of the water lily as it visibly floats on the surface of a pond is only possible because God created it to be deeply rooted in the mud below. Praise to you, Lord, because you keep us rooted in Jesus so we are able to display your beauty. Thank you for the gift of faith that you have given to us.
Eph. 3:17 Rom. 8:38–39 Col 2:7
VIOLET – “O VICTORY in JESUS….” Dear Jesus, you conquered sin and the grave, offering us redemption and eternal life. O praise your name, Most High.
1 John 5:4 1 Cor. 15:57 Rom. 5:8
IRIS – The three levels of petals remind me of the Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, our holy, triumvirate God, loving and caring for us in every way, creating us, redeeming us, teaching and guiding us. We thank you for all that you do for us, incredibly great things, day after day, keeping us for eternity.
2 Cor. 13:14 Eph. 4:4-6 1 Peter1:1–2
DAISY – Remember as children playing this game, “He loves me; he loves me not”? No petal plucking here. There’s no doubt about it – God loves us. I praise you, Jesus, humbly thanking you for submitting yourself to the cross of Calvary, for your pure, steadfast, unconditional love. Every petal of my daisy now would say, “He loves me!” “He loves me!” “He loves!”
1 Peter 1:18–21
WISTERIA – Thank you, Lord for providing us with your WORD, full of your truth and wisdom. How grateful we are to learn of you through your divinely inspired Scripture.
Heb. 4:12 2 Tim. 3:16
PEONY – The Bible is full of your PROMISES, Lord, every one trustworthy. We can rely on them and on you, our never-changing God, the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, forever. Praise your holy name.
2 Cor. 1:19–20 Joshua 23:14
BEGONIA – Thank you, Lord, for the beauty in our lives – the beauty found in your Word, the beauty around us in your creation, the beautiful people in our lives, and the beauty
of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. May we pray for ourselves – “Let the beauty of Jesus be found in me.”
Ecc. 3:11
HOSTA – We are grateful, Jesus, that you desire us to have a pure heart that the Holy Spirit will help us attain.
Ps. 51:10–12
PANSY – People often say that a patch of pansies looks like little faces. God orchestrates all plants and trees, causing them to bloom one after another, becoming beautiful and fragrant for our enjoyment. Thank you, Lord, for the beauty in life reminding us to be beautiful for you for you created us.
Ps. 139:14 Is. 61:11
WILDFLOWERS – Wildflowers, like the buttercup as a symbol of joy, are the beautiful miracles created and cared for by God, bringing so much beauty and joy into our lives, giving us a glimpse into his beauty and creativity and care. We praise God for the wonder and joy he gives us as we marvel at the beauty of his creation. Some wildflowers can be “tamed” and transplanted into our cultivated gardens. People also can be “tamed” and transplanted into God’s kingdom as they receive Jesus as Saviour and allow the Holy Spirit to conform them to become Christlike. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for your redeeming work through Jesus Christ, our
Gentle Shepherd, constant companion, faithful friend, intercessor, Saviour and Lord.
Luke 12:27 Ps. 96:12
Quote by Jill Briscoe –
I watched Corrie Ten Boom receive people’s heartfelt thanks for her ministry. “How do you stay humble?” I asked her, “It must be difficult not to get big headed when everyone keeps saying ‘thank you’ all the time?”
Corrie smiled and replied, “I used to struggle with it, but not anymore. All through the day I collect people’s appreciation as if I am collecting a beautiful bunch of flowers; then at the end of the day I kneel by my bedside and offer my bouquet to Jesus. “Here You are, Lord,” I say. “They are all Yours, for what do I have that I did not receive from You? This bouquet of praise belongs to none other than You, Lord.”
May this “Posy of Praise” honour and bless You, Lord God. Amen.
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