15th - 21st June 2026
Theme: “Hallelujah”
Introduction:
Something I have only learned in the last year was the actual meaning of the word “Hallelujah”. It’s one of those funny situations where I’ve asked myself, what did I think it meant?! I’ve been a church attendee from a young age and a born-again Christian for around 9 years. So, I know that I have read/sung this word countless times in prayer and worship yet had never questioned its actual meaning. I just thought it was nice and poetic. (We’ll call it ignorance over foolishness!).
Hallelujah:
Hallelu / Hallel means “praise”.
Jah / Yah is a shortened form of YAHWEH (or YHWH in Hebrew) meaning “God” or “The Lord”.
Praise the Lord! What a simple but fantastic phrase. Now, knowing the actual meaning, my outlook on a number of Psalms and verses have changed. I thought it would be nice to explore some of the passages that include these words in prayer this week, as we praise the Lord together.
Written by Matthew Gordon
MONDAY
Psalm 148: 1-6 (NIV)
“Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for at his command they were created, and he established them for ever and ever – he issued a decree that will never pass away.”
Lord, we lift up your name. You are our Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. You are the Creator and Lord of all and are so deserving of such praise. You gave commands and all of creation came into existence. We thank you for providing us with everything we need and for forgiving our constant failures. Help us to go into our busy weeks remembering that, in everything, we should praise your name. Hallelujah! Amen.
TUESDAY
Psalm 146: 1-3 (NIV)
“Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.”
Lord, we praise your glorious name. You are our fortress and deliverer. In a world where princes, leaders and politicians are so easily corrupted, we give thanks that we have a ruler that is perfect, that is trustworthy and that can save us from our sinful nature. Lord, fill each of us with your wisdom and help us to lift our eyes to look only to you. Amen.
WEDNESDAY
Psalm 146: 9-10 (NIV)
“The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord.”
Lord, we praise your almighty name. You are compassionate and abounding in love. You are a King who looks after the stranger, the needy, the poor. Help us to be filled with your Spirit, to show grace, compassion, love and care for those around us. Help us to be faithful witnesses and shining lights in our communities. Amen.
THURSDAY
Psalm 147: 1-3 (NIV)
“Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him! The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel. He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds.”
Lord, you are our refuge and strength. Thank you that you came to heal the sick and the sinners. Today we pray for those in our church family who are dealing with heartbreak, pain and suffering. Lord, we ask that you keep your hand over them, give each one of them comfort and relieve them of their suffering. We cast all of these fears and anxieties over to you, in your wonderful, holy name, Amen.
FRIDAY
Psalm 147: 7-9 (NIV)
“Sing to the Lord with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp. He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call.”
Psalm 145: 15-16 (NIV)
“The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.”
Lord, you are creator and sustainer of all. You provide for all living things. Today, we thank you for our daily bread. We are blessed in this country to have an abundance, and we are so grateful for this. However, we recognise that not everyone has the same access and we pray for those in poverty, both in our country and abroad. We pray that they can have the same access to clean water and food. We pray for your presence to be with the men and women in charities, mission teams and governments that work every day to help these people. Teach them to call out to you and you will open your hand to satisfy their every need. Amen.
SATURDAY
Psalm 148: 13-14 (NIV)
“Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his splendour is above the earth and the heavens. And he has raised up for his people a horn, the praise of all his faithful servants of Israel, the people close to his heart. Praise the Lord.”
Luke 1: 68-69 (NIV)
“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David.”
Lord, we praise your wonderful, exalted name. Lord, you are the great and faithful deliverer of your people. We thank you today for your ultimate gift, Jesus Christ. You took on flesh, bore our sins on the cross and rose from the grave, freeing us from condemnation. Hallelujah! Lord, we pray that every person will come to know you as we do. We pray for our local communities, our workplaces, our families and our friends. Help us to shine like Christ and be the light in the darkness. Amen.
SUNDAY
Revelation 19:1-2 (NIV)
“After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: ‘Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are his judgements.”
Lord, we finish up this week of prayer echoing heaven’s multitudes. Hallelujah! Salvation, glory, honour and power belongs to you, O Lord. You are almighty, faithful and just. Lord, we ask that you continue to fill us daily with your Spirit and move in our lives. We thank you for the provision and strength you give us each day. Prompt each of us to use what we have to help others. Thank you that we can pray knowing you have prepared a place for us to dwell with you. In your holy name we pray, Amen.