When we pray, it is easy for us to focus only on our own petitions and to make our prayers a list of the things that we need. After all, God has commanded us to ask Him for all that we need for body and soul. But then we forget that prayer must also be part of our thanksgiving to God. Prayer is not only for making requests of God, but also an occasion for thanking the Lord and praising Him for his greatness, his majesty, his love, and mercy. After all, the prayer which our Saviour taught us begins with the petition, “Hallowed be your name.”

Psalm 86 is a “prayer” of David, according to the title listed above the psalm. This psalm is an earnest entreaty in which David places himself in the position of a servant, in order to seek the help of his Master. Even though David was a king, he recognizes that God is the greater King, before whom David is only a servant. In this psalm David petitions the Lord for help (vv 1-7). But after presenting his petitions, he also makes sure to praise the Lord.

In verse 8 David switches from requests to praise. This verse presents God as incomparable. He is in a class of his own, especially when compared with other beings who were said to be gods. The Canaanites and the nations around Israel worshipped other gods: Baal, Asherah, Chemosh, and Molech.

When compared to these gods, the Lord stands out. He is not limited like they are. He is not local to the particular nation that worships Him. God has performed great works such as no other so-called god has ever managed to do.

Glorifying God in this way is something we must not forget to do in our prayers. God is presented to us in Scripture as one deserving of praise. Isaiah saw the seraphim around the throne, using their voices to praise God continually. John saw the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders praising God and declaring his holiness, glory, honour, and power.

Praise and exaltation of God should be part of our prayers. Yet there are many of us who think they do not know how to glorify God or what appropriate things to say to Him. Some people seem to have the gift of finding the right words, while others do not.

When we pay attention to Psalm 86:8, we learn that praising God in our prayers is not as difficult as we might think. David refers to God’s works, things which God has done. In his own life, David could think of the special anointing he received. He could also mention the many times that God saved him from Saul, or the many times that He provided for David and his men in the wilderness. David does not mention those things in Psalm 86, but he could have. And many of these great works are mentioned in other psalms of David.

David also could have thought about the works of God in the more distant past, when He crushed Pharaoh’s army in the Red Sea, or gave manna in the desert, or knocked down the walls of Jericho. These great works proclaimed the power of the Lord and showed Him to be the only true God. By recalling these works, David and the other psalmists were often led to praise God. Psalms 105 and 106, for example, praise God for his faithfulness to his people. Psalm 104 praises God for his great work of creation.

What are the great works of God that will lead you to praise Him? Every time you open your Bible at the end of a meal or for your evening devotions, you are reading the gospel, which is a record of God’s great works. You read of his faithfulness, his love, his justice, and his almighty power. You read of Christ, the Anointed One, who is your prophet, priest, and king. These are themes that can be worked into your prayers with some practice. For example, if you have read about Christ’s redeeming work, you can praise God for the precious blood of his Son. If you have read about the new life God has given you, you can praise Him for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Whatever aspect of God’s work is before you can lead you to praise Him. He is the only God, the Most High God, and He is worthy to be sanctified, glorified, and praised.