Fervent Prayer: Gratitude and Praise

Do you see it? Do you notice it? Can you feel it? Or has life and the circumstances of your life - the struggles and pains, or even the joys and triumphs - overshadowed it? You probably ask, “What is he talking about - what is ‘it’?”

I’m talking about grace. I’m talking about mercy. I’m talking about the deepest love. I’m talking about Sonship.

“It” is the reality of our position as sons and daughters and all that is afforded us because of Christ and His sufficient work on the cross. It’s the fact that we were once lost, enslaved to sin, and dead in transgressions, but God - who is rich in mercy - loved us and sought us and made us alive with Christ. And in Christ and His promised Holy Spirit living inside of us… we lack NOTHING.

Today’s prayer emphasis is centered on prayers of gratitude and praise. It reminds me of Paul’s instruction to the Thessalonian church:

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Hear those words. God’s Church is to rejoice all the time, pray all the time, and give thanks all of the time - no matter what is going on - and it’s God’s will for us that we do.

However, so often gratitude and praise are not readily on our lips. Often, our eyes lower from the glory of Jesus to the things of this world, to our circumstances and trials, and we lose sight of magnitude of Christ and all that He’s done for us. This week, let us “fix our minds on things above” as it says in Colossians 3. Let us fix our eyes on our glorious Redeemer who has given Himself for us completely so that we might lack nothing. Let us see the fullness of who He is and find our satisfaction in Him alone. And in turn, let us rejoice and give thanks for all that He is and all that He’s done!

Rejoice always. Pray all the time. Give thanks in all circumstances. For this is the will of God for you.