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I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone. (1 Timothy 2:1)
Paul made this request of his young friend Timothy, who was leading the church in Ephesus. Paul knew how critical it was to keep asking for God’s grace, both for ourselves and for those around us. He knew how important it is that we all continue to bring the needs of other people to God, “who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4) Paul’s words are worth hearing today, since it can be tempting to minimize our need for God and the power that his grace can have on our lives and on the lives of the people around us. We all know how easy it is to take God out of the daily equation of our lives and turn to him only when things are in dire straits. But…
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Praying with persistance is good, however let us not forget that giving thanks and praise with our prayer is of great importance. God is so good and hears our prayers, but if all we ever do is ask Him for this or that and never tell Him how grateful we are for all our blessings, what good is that? Throughout my day I’m constantly telling Jesus “thank you” for His eternal love, never giving up on me, taking me back over and over, restoring my feeble broken soul. How great Thou art!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, I always pray at least as much in thanksgiving as I did in the asking. I don’t take God’s gift and run away.
I had a great opportunity this past Spring when my husband has a heart attack at 80 years old - he had six bypasses and has never had high cholesterol and always exercised and kept his weight in control etc. I have always prayed for him but let me tell you my prayer was much more intense and I asked that Jesus hold Harold in His loving arms and take good care of him. I truly was able to pray with complete confidence thanks to the Holy Spirit and I understand much better now the phrase,"Ask and you shall receive.”
Well, I got much more then I asked. Not only did my husband survive but he has recovered so well and is back doing all the things he enjoys, especially riding his bike and going to the gym to work out. Not only that but through this difficult time I have grown tremendously in my love and awareness of God’s grace in my life as a whole.I have been able to see places in my life where I can say deny myself by saying no to myself in various situations that come up. It’s kind of like making Lent a part of my life all the time.
I will continue to say a prayer of thank you for the rest of my life.