Prayers for Thanksgiving and Always
Now the leaves are changing and the air is cool we start turning our thoughts toward the holidays with all the familiar sights sounds and smells that accompany it.
The smell of turkey roasting or pies baking or the sound of chatter from your family or friends gathering to the roar from the sports fanatics watching football or the sounds from the parade on tv.
Of course not everyone will have all of that, unfortunately, Sadly spending their hours alone but for others, have no home at all, which many, sadly have been and still are experiencing in our world today.
This circumstance, I would imagine, could bring about a feeling of hopelessness that God isn't there or care. and for others more fortunate they could take for granted what they have and just forget God all together.
But for true believers, who know who God is, was and always will be in their lives, serves to only strengthen their hope and their reasons to give Thanks to all He has provided and continues to provide.
This is described as a Prayer of Thanksgiving:
This is a prayer that glorifies God and thanks Him for what He has provided and continues to provide.
So Thanksgiving could be defined as an action and not an event. In doing so you aren't just thanking Him for what you are about to eat but also for His willingness to provide it to you. Also it is in keeping with God's will as well.
We should also do this in: The Spirit of Christ
This produces fruits within us as we grow in our relationship to Him.
1. Faithfulness 5. Gentleness 9. Love
2. Self-Control 6. Joy
3. Patience 7. Kindness
4. Goodness 8. Peace
But to better understand this, we must go back to the beginning.
No not to Plymouth Rock and the the Pilgrims and Indians but to the Bible and God's Chosen people the Israelites.
A time when acknowledging His authority and ability to sustain even through tests and trials was an everyday thing for the most faithful.
Unfortunately there were some who sinned against God and He sent them into captivity.
Daniel, for example, was among those who were taken captive but never lost his hope and constantly prayed to God and glorified Him therefore setting an example of Faith under pressure and a:
Model Prayer Life.
A. He Studied the Scriptures ( In doing so 2 things were revealed to him)
* 1. Why Judah had been exiled (Daniel 9:11-13)
a. Their rebellion against God.
b. Or keep His Laws
* 2. Therefore resulting in:
c. Curses and and judgements being fulfilled ( Leviticus 26 )
& (Deuteronomy 27 ) & ( Deuteronomy 28)
B. Confessed of His and His People's sins (Corporate Confession)
* He accepted the personal responsibility for the sins of his people
C. Humbled himself before God
* Putting on sackcloth and rubbed ashes on himself (Daniel 9:3)
Note: Of course today we wouldn't have to go to that extreme but God does
expect us to remove ourselves from all distractions of this world and
devote time and attention to Him in prayer.
D. He Never Used Prayer to Make deals with God
* (James 5:16) As mentioned above when he made his petition in behalf of
himself and his people he did it without "making a deal" with God.
In Following Daniel's example here is some things to keep in mind in
developing an Attitude of Prayer
1. Prepare yourself for Prayer ( Ephesians 3:18-19)
a. So you may be filled with Christ
2. Be Humble (I Peter 5:5-7)
a. God opposes the proud and favor to the humble.
3. Confess your Sins ( 1 John 1:19)
a. We can be in the light and not the darkness of our sin by
petitioning to God.
4. Repent to God your sin (Acts 3:19)
a. Turn to Him so He can refresh your soul and free you.
5. Know Your Enemy (Ephesians 6: 10-12)
a. Equipping Yourself by putting on the
Armor of God
1. Belt of Truth - The Holy Spirit protects and equips
you from the enemy.
2. Breastplate of Righteousness-Comes from the Gospel of Peace
( Protected by the Holy Spirit through a relationship with Christ,
Studying the Word, and Prayer.)
3. Feet fitted for Righteousness- A sure foundation that we have peace
with God.
4. Shield of Faith-To extinguish the arrows of the evil one
( By taking a stand by holding firm to the Word of God.)
5. Helmet of Salvation-Covered by the blood of the Lamb
( Tells the enemy what side you're on.)
a. In Christ(Justification)we've been saved(Sanctification)and will be
saved.(Glorification)
* Justification- Act of making something right with God.
* Sanctification- To separate from an evil world and dedicate
yourself to God, purify you from sin through repentance to
renew your soul.
All of this is not only for good practice but also because God expects it and also left a prayer we can always say that cover's everything.
The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)
Breakdown of the Lord's Prayer and how it connects us to God
1. Personal Relaionship with God- "Our Father"
2. Faith-"Which art in heaven"
3. Worship- "hallowed be thy name"
4. Expectation-" thy kingdom come"
5. Submission- "thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven"
6. Petition-" give us this day our daily bread"
7. Confession- "and forgive us our debts"
8. Compassion-"as we forgive our debtors"
9. Dependence- "and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil"
10. Acknowledgement- "for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory
forever."
My only hope is that you feel blessed this Thanksgiving and remember that God does provide for all our needs and may everyone be blessed.
God Bless 🙏♰
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