THE PRAYER PERSPECTIVE: PRAYING WITH THANKSGIVING

HELLO MY NAME IS PERNELL HILL AND WELCOME TO THE PRAYER PERSPECTIVE, A BIBLICAL VIEW POINT ON THE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES OF PRAYER. EACH PERSPECTIVE WILL HAVE PRAYER TAKE-AWAYS, THESE ARE STEPS YOU CAN USE TO MAXIMIZE YOUR PRAYER DISCIPLINE.

Psalm 7:17 I will give to the Lord the thanks due to His righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the most High.Ephesians 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Just like praise, thanksgiving is also a concept of prayer that we should not only practice, but hold in high regard. Practicing thanksgiving to God makes for a healthy prayer life. We can see how beneficial it is through our relationship with God; thanksgivings are also beneficial as it relates to our interaction with one another. But why is giving thanks so important in our society? Because it shows appreciation. To appreciate means to recognize the full worth(iness) of. It also means to value, to treasure, to admire, and respect. We’ll see that some of it’s approaches is akin to praise, such as showing or communicating admiration, but Thanksgiving does have its own unique spiritual usage.

Psalm 7:17 I will give to the Lord the thanks due to His righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the most High. When we are offering prayers of thanksgivings to God, in essence we are offering appreciation, because we recognize His worth. He is the Creator of this world, if it weren’t for God we would not have life; this is something we should always keep in mind. I remember being taught in my childhood to say “thank you” when someone does something for you; it was the neighborly thing to do. When you don’t say “thank you” it may leave the person wondering whether or not they are appreciated. When a person returns your giving with “Thanks” it’s just something special about the exchange; they are expressions founded on the principles of Godly love. When we are living out these expressions sincerely, we glorify God, and perhaps holy reciprocity will be the norm; how wonderful this would be.

Ephesians 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; The vertical aspect of Thanksgiving is always warranted, because God’s love is always evident. Those who follow after God through Jesus Christ understands that a great sacrifice was made on their behalf; a sacrifice that would save them from the penalty of sin, out of all the things to be thankful for, this could be the greatest, from both a heaven and earth perspective.

Prayer Take-Aways

1. Practicing ‘Thanksgiving’ to God makes for a healthy prayer life

2. ‘Thanksgivings’ are beneficial as it relates to our interaction with one another.

3. ‘Thanksgiving’ shows appreciation which means to value, treasure, and admire.

4. ‘Thanks’ is an expression founded on the principles of Godly love.

5. We should always recognize God’s worth, and teach others to do the same.

6. When you don’t say “Thank you” it may leave the other person wondering whether or not they were appreciated.

7. The vertical aspect of Thanksgiving is always warranted, because God’s love is always evident.