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"We
give thanks to God always for
you all,
making mention of you
in our prayers;
Remembering without
ceasing your work of faith,
and labor of love, and
patience of hope
in our Lord Jesus
Christ, in the sight of God
and our Father;
Knowing, brethren beloved,
your election of God."
1Thessalonians 1:2-4
"PRAYER"
Paul never forgot the
Thessalonians. They were good
friends whom he remembered
with fondness. They were an
intimate part of his prayer
life. He needed to thank God
for them and pray God's
continued blessing on them.
A wonderful thing happens
when you praise or thank
someone for something they did
for you. Praise adds to their
spirit. People just seem to
grow and blossom when they are
praised and thanked. Haven't
you felt the same way about
someone who thanked or praised
you? Now, don't you think we
are justified in believing
that God feels something of
the same; although in a
grander and nobler way, when
His children praise and thank
him?
"Pray
without ceasing. In every
thing give thanks: for this is
the will of God in Christ
Jesus concerning you"
(1Thessalonians 5:17,18).
Many people believe that
prayer is for emergencies only
... for communication with God
in times of trouble. We may
pray fervently in times of
distress, but we forget to
talk with God when our lives
are going well. Believers
ought to remain in the
attitude of prayer though not
always praying audibly.
"But thou, when thou
prayest, enter into thy
closet, and when thou hast
shut the door, pray to thy
Father which is in secret; and
thy Father which seeth in
secret shall reward thee
openly. But when ye pray, use
not vain repetitions, as the
heathen do:
for they think that they shall
be heard for their much
speaking. Be not ye therefore
like unto them: for your
Father knoweth what things ye
have need of, before ye ask
him"
(Matthew 6:6-8).
I believe the principle here
is that the believer should
not make a show of his prayer
nor of the answers he receives
to prayer in such a way as to
call unnecessary attention to
himself. Prayer in the life of
the true believer is an act of
total confidence and assurance
in the plan and purpose of
God.
"Likewise
the Spirit also helpeth our
infirmities: for we know not
what we should pray for as we
ought: but the Spirit itself
maketh intercession for us
with groanings which cannot be
uttered"
(Romans 8:26).
This describes our relationship to God by the power and presence of the
Holy Spirit. The Spirit works
on our behalf, a relationship
with the Father so our
unspoken prayers are before
the Father's throne even
before we speak them, or even
before we are aware of our
needs. "In
ways that cannot
be known, with groanings which
cannot be uttered,"
the Spirit brings before the
throne of a gracious and
merciful God all our cares and
concerns.
"And he (Jesus)
was withdrawn from them (his
disciples) about a stone's
cast, and kneeled down, and
prayed, Saying,
Father, if thou be willing,
remove this cup from me:
nevertheless not my will, but
thine, be done"
(Luke 22:41,42).
God encourages us to bring all our requests to Him. He desires that we
accept His will according to
His Word as we pray. When our
will comes into line with His,
as it does when we pray,
"Not
my will, but Thine, be done,"
our lives are altered in a
fundamental way.
In EVERY THING, the
Christian is to give thanks to
God for the good He brings,
even though sometimes
unpleasant. The constant
attitude of prayer will help
the believer to maintain
gratitude in the face of
adversity.
Passages on Prayer throughout
the Bible are too numerous to
mention. These were just a
select few. Another favorite
of mine is in the Book of
Psalm, chapters 20 & 21.
Please take time to read how
Jesus prays to the Father.
The process of prayer is the
heartbeat of our faith in our
Lord. Is your will and desires
in line with God's Word for
your life?
Make it a
major part of your prayer life
to submit your will, and then
your actions, to His Word.
I have written a little poem
on praying. Please use this in
your own words for the closing
prayer for today's
inspiration.
Each day take the time to pray
And thank Him up above
For every thing He sends your
way;
His unconditional love.
Just ask for His forgiveness
For wrong doings you have
done,
And let His Spirit guide you
As you follow Christ, His
Son.
PRAISE
HIM Through
PRAYER!
I
would rather talk to Jesus
Each and every single day,
And know my life's secure with
Him
In
heaven there one day;
Than live a life without Him
here
And never speak a word,
To
only end up hearing Him say,
"My child, I've never heard!"
"Lord Dictated Them"
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