Scripture
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; his greatness is unsearchable.
Psalm 145:3 NRSV
Spiritual Focus
“The highest form of worship is the (practice) of unselfish Christian service. The greatest form of praise is the sound of consecrated feet seeking out the lost and helpless.” Rev. Billy Graham
Devotion
Hallelujah is an ancient word derived from the Hebrew language. Halla means to praise, and Jah or Yah is one name for God. In church, praise and worship often take the form of singing hymns or reciting prayers—many of which contain the word Hallelujah. But no matter the words, praise and worship are acts of adoration for the One who has created and loves us. A lovely physical way to express our adoration of God is to close our eyes and fold our hands, as we were taught as children.
Fr. Tom Ryan, CSP, author of Prayer of Heart and Body: Meditation and Yoga as Christian Spiritual Practice, teaches that every movement of hands and feet, eye gaze and breath, set with an intention to adore God, is an act of praise and worship. Yogadevotion has embraced this belief since its inception.
When we raise our hands, looking toward the heavens, or ground down through our feet, connecting with the earth with an intention to praise God, we are engaged in worship. When we take what we learn in praising God off the mat and into the world, we participate in the ultimate manifestation of worship: loving and caring for our neighbor. Hallelujah!
Breath Prayer
Inhale Halle-
Exhale lujah!
Focus Pose: Surya Namaskara, Sun Salutation, is one of the most recognized asana sequences in yoga. This week make this familiar sequence, a practice of praise to the Creator. You might decide to practice the asana with breath, while repeating a favorite prayer such as the Lord’s Prayer. For example, start in Mountain Pose. Inhale as you raise your arms overhead to “Our Father who art in heaven.” Next, exhale to Standing Forward Fold, arms circling downward, on “hallowed be thy name.” You get the idea. Combining praise with your practice transforms it, revealing a pathway to God’s healing love. Hallelujah!
