1 Timothy 2:1 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people.
We begin our month of thanksgiving with a look at prayer. Paul used this letter to Timothy as a way to train him in church leadership and management. In today’s verse he explains to Timothy the different ways that the church should be praying for all people – petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving. We are looking specifically at thanksgiving in this devotion.
First let’s look at what a prayer of thanksgiving actually IS. Prayers of thanksgiving are expressions of gratitude we pray to God for any blessings, provision, and guidance we have received. The focus is on recognizing God’s goodness, acknowledging our dependence on Him, and then praising Him for what He did in our lives.
As believers, we rely on God for all we have and all we need. We trust, through faith, that He will protect us and provide for us. And we believe that He has a plan for our futures (Jeremiah 29:11).
But we need to be doing more than just receiving. We need to be thanking Him for everything He has done in our lives. We need to show gratitude in our prayers. It is easy to turn to God and ask for things we need (or want) when we are praying, but how often do we stop and truly show gratitude in our prayers?
Today spend some time talking to God about all He has done for you. Evaluate your life and think about how much time you spend in prayer thanking God for what He has done. Then take the time to stop and pray, giving Him thanks for everything.
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