From our nations founding, we the people have offered prayers for her and for those in government. It is also true that our founding fathers offered prayers.
It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible. Thomas Jefferson
Today in our PrayerPodcast we continue to pray for our government, that it may be good and godly, and recite several prayers from our earliest days. Note the prominence of thanksgiving.
Prayer Insights … from E.M. Bounds and the Puritans
“Thanksgiving is oral, positive, active. It is the giving out of something to God. Thanksgiving comes out into the open. Gratitude is secret, silent, negative, passive, not showing its being till expressed in praise and thanksgiving. Gratitude is felt in the heart. Thanksgiving is the expression of that inward feeling.”― E.M. Bounds, The Complete Collection of E. M. Bounds on Prayer
The necessity of our giving thanks cannot be overemphasized. We ought express gratitude with others when some act of blessing has been performed, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. When we have received a favor, we owe a debt. How much favor have we received from our Lord!
Are we properly expressing our appreciation for these? Jesus healed ten lepers, but only one returned to him with thanksgiving. How many others can we find in the Gospels who were so blessed with healing and forgiveness that failed to express gratitude? Prayers of thanksgiving to God should be daily, even throughout the day.
Wherever there is true prayer, there thanksgiving and gratitude stand hard by ready to respond to the answer when it comes. E.M. Bounds
The Apostle Paul was thankful… I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 1Co 1:4 NKJV
When we pray with thanksgiving, Philippians 4:6-7 teaches us that the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds in Christ. Focus on God first and what he has done for us.
And the Lord has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 1:3-14). He has sent his only Son who took our place that we might repent and believe in him. He has given us his Word, his Holy Spirit, He has saved us, and made us His own, and will return for us.
(For additional insights on gratitude, see our earlier post)
A Prayer of Thanksgiving and Praise
O My God,
Thou fairest, greatest, first of all objects,
my heart admires, adores, loves thee,
for my little vessel is as full as it can be,
and I would pour out all that fullness before thee
in ceaseless flow.
When I think upon and converse with thee
ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up,
ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed,
ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart,
crowding into every moment of happiness.
I bless thee for the soul thou hast created,
for adorning it, sanctifying it,
though it is fixed in barren soil;
for the body thou has given me,
for preserving its strength and vigor,
for providing sense to enjoy delights,
for the ease and freedom of my limbs,
for hands, eyes, ears that do thy bidding;
for thy royal bounty providing my daily support,
for a full table and overflowing cup,
for appetite, taste, sweetness,
for social joys of relatives and friends,
for ability to serve others,
for a heart that feels sorrows and necessities,
for a mind to care for my fellow-men,
for opportunities of spreading happiness around,
for loved ones in the joys of heaven,
for my own expectation of seeing thee clearly.
I love thee above the powers of language to express,
for what thou art to thy creatures.
Increase my love, O my God, through time and eternity. 1
We are thankful for you and may the Lord bless you this Thanksgiving Day
Pray For The People Of God From The Word Of God
Here are four passages we are praying from this week:
Thu - Psalm 50:14
Fri - Psalm 69:30
Sat - Psalm 95:2
Sun - Psalm 100
Will you join me in praying these verses, and ask one person to join you?
Until Monday, grace and peace
Taken from Valley Of Vision, a collection of Puritan Prayers
Photo by Alex Shute on Unsplash
Gratitude In Prayer