Thanksgiving means appreciation, acknowledgement and recognition of a deed done. It is one of the essential aspects of prayer that involves expressing gratitude to God for His blessings and grace upon our lives. It is acknowledging God for who He is, what He has done and what He can and will do.
Thanksgiving is an inseparable part of any aspect of prayer we engage in. Scripturally, we should begin and end our prayers in thanksgiving. You should not just appreciate God for the answers to your prayers, but even the privilege to stand before Him on the prayer altar. The Bible clearly states: Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, And into his courts with praise: Be thankful unto him, and bless his name (Psalm 100:4). A prayer without thanksgiving is like posting a letter without an address; it won’t receive attention.
A prayer of thanksgiving is appreciation to God, which qualifies you to make other requests. If you do not thank God for the last blessings and favour He rendered you, why should you ask for another? Thanksgiving is our passcode to receive more from God.
Henceforth, before making any request of God engage in intense thanksgiving; not just for what He has done, but for who He is, what He can and will do (James 1:17).
Thankfulness is a big deal in the Bible. In fact, it is one of the specific things that we are told is God’s will for us, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 states, In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. The word ‘thanks’ or ‘thanksgiving’ comes up 102 times in the Old Testament, while ‘thankfulness’ comes up 71 times in the New Testament. This shows how important thanksgiving is to God.
Your prayer of thanksgiving is an expression of gratitude to God. It is grateful acknowledgement and a celebration of the benefits and favours from Him. It is a public celebration in acknowledgement of God’s favour or kindness. The Jesus model of Prayer in Matthew chapter 6 began and ended with thanksgiving. When Jesus was to raise Lazarus from the dead, He gave thanks first, before giving the command. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me (John 11:41).
Thanksgiving was instrumental to the multiplication of the five loaves of bread and two fish (John 6:11). Jesus engaged in thanksgiving prayer even in the face of opposition. So, prayer of thanksgiving should not be just for a season, but should be our protocol in prayer.
shalom!
#pstnath.
Jesus is Lord.