Monday, May 23, 2011

I Just Want to Say Thank You LORD

Jesus tells us in Luke 18:1 "that men always ought to pray and not lose heart." Prayer is a very important part of the believers life. But how many times have you spent a half and hour to an hour just thanking the LORD for who He is, what He has done and or what He is to do? How about thanking for all He has done for us and all that He is yet to do for us and through us?

The Apostle Paul tells us that "Giving Thanks" is a normal part of praying...
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Although this particular scripture places the focus on dealing with anxiety or worry, Paul tell us, "By prayer and supplication with thanksgiving continue to make your requests (wants) known to God.” Believers should be a people of thanksgiving...
Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; Sing praises on the harp to our God, (Psalms 147:7)

The point is this, whether it’s general prayers of faith or the specific supplication we are to offer both "with thanksgiving." We are to pray about everything, and with every prayer we are to also give thanks. No matter what the circumstance or situation is that we are praying about, our prayers must reflect an attitude of gratitude. The Apostle John tells us...
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. (I John 5:14-15)

We are thankful because faith says, if we ask according to His will He hears us and gives us the petitions that we have asked of Him, whether we see what we’ve asked for or not.
Faith is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead. (Hebrews 11:1 TLB)

Notice also that thanksgiving together with prayer and supplication produces peace. It is not produced by prayer alone, but by prayer with thanksgiving. The peace that Paul is talking about is the same peace that we see Jesus giving in John 14:27, “My peace I give to you…” His peace is a tranquil, quieting and uninterrupted happiness of mind

Greek Philosopher Aristotle said; "A return is required to preserve friendship between two persons, and as we have nothing else to give to God except gratitude, let us abound therein. If we have no fruit of the field, let us at least render to him the fruit of our lips. Have you no thanks to bring? How, then, can you expect further favors? Does not liberality itself close its hand when ingratitude stands in the way? What, never a word of gratitude to him from whom all blessings flow! Then may even the ungodly despise you.

So in our prayers and supplications, let's exercise an attitude of gratitude and give thanks to the LORD...

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