PRAY….with THANKSGIVING… {How to cultivate a heart of thankfulness…} From The Book Of Colossians
1. BE THANKFUL FOR THE SAINTS- 1:3-7. Paul begins in verse 3 directing his thanks to God for the believers. Note he specifically thanks GOD for their…FAITH in the Lord, LOVE for all God’s people, Hope, their RECEPTION of God’s Word and the EVIDENCES of a fruitful spiritual life. He SPECIFICALLY Thinks and THANKS GOD for what is evident in the lives of the saints . ” WE GIVE THANKS TO GOD THE FATHER of our Lord Jesus, praying always for you SINCE WE HEARD…” 1:3
Paul was OBSERVANT. NOTE– He then communicates to the believers in a letter… thank God for what is seen in others.. take time to COMMUNICATE THIS TO OTHERS TO encourage and build them up in their faith!
Q- What specifically is it that you see God has and is doing in the lives of His people that cause you to SPECIFICALLY THANK HIM FOR… as you pray for someone?
Q- Have you ever encouraged another believer by telling them specifically what you are thanking God for as you see His Work manifested in their lives? If not… now is a good time to start and encourage them. Us the means available to you, email, phone, tweet, speak to them. CHOSE to encourage someone in their faith TODAY!
I once was at a retreat and one of the assignments was for the young people who were split into small groups and did sports together, eat together, did Bible studies together at the end of the week go around the circle and say what they were thankful for in the other individuals….. hmm… a lot of fidgeting… it was VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM… Why is that? Do you find it easier to fault find and complain or to build people up and encourage them with the work of God as is being worked out in their lives? No one is perfect. I am not speaking of that. But there are reasons to be thankful for the saints. The church at Corinth was a mess…yet Paul in chapter 1 found reasons to thank God for what qualities he could commend in them…and he told them! Observe…Be thankful to GOD…encourage His people!
ALPHABET OF PRAYER; Sometimes, as a recent morning I awoke feeling very low, sickly and just feeling nothing as it were. To kick start my prayer in thanks I use the alphabet and for each letter I trust the Lord to bring to mind and think of a name of a believer and thank God for them, working my way through the alphabet. Perhaps this may help you… in days when you don’t “feel” like praying or know “what” to pray …perhaps you can try this. For THANKSGIVING …GLORIFY’S GOD!- The One leper who came back and gave the Lord Jesus THANKS, He said Glorified God.. So if you Give specific thanks for HIS PEOPLE and use the Alphabet as a means if you find it helpful .. How many times is that you have GLORIFIED Him in giving thanks:) -See Luke 17:11-19
2. BE THANKFUL FOR SALVATION- 1:12-14. To the FATHER …he thanks Him for salvation. He uses words such as “authorized.”God the Father has “AUTHORIZED”{“QUALIFIED”} their salvation. He has gifted them an “INHERITANCE”…”RESCUED us from the domain of darkness…TRANSFERRED us to the kingdom of His Beloved Son…. in whom we HAVE REDEMPTION…. THE FORGIVENESS of sins… These are reasons to be named studied and ultimately to come before God in your praying and”…joyously GIVING THANKS to the Father….” for the Father’s salvation.
APPLICATION – THANK God your FATHER now for the 6 aspects of salvation highlighted in this verse!
3. BE THANKFUL FOR SPIRITUAL PROGRESS- 2:6. 4 participles in the Greek describe a healthy Believer. The first participle has to do with the new birth as seen in the words “firmly rooted” and speaks of the initial reception of new life. The other participles which follow speak of the progress- or the outworking of THIS NEW spiritual life, namely… been “built up” like a building; “increasingly stable in ” their faith and constantly being THANKFUL. A CONSTANTLY THANKFUL individual is a mark of spiritual maturity and progressing in the faith! Growing in giving thanks… is a mark of really making progress
4. BE THANKFUL FOR THE PEACE OF CHRIST – 3:15.
A. – The Peace of Christ is Personified in the Person of Christ- Ephesians 2:14…”for He Himself is OUR PEACE!” B. – The Peace of Christ is a State- Rom 5:1 “therefore we have PEACE WITH God Through our Lord Jesus Christ.” C. – The Peace of Christ is an Emotion- “Let the Peace of Christ RULE IN YOUR HEARTS”. To “Rule” speaks of an umpire who makes the decision. To call a play in or out of play. So the Peace of Christ- all that is in accordance with His nature… His Word by His SPIRIT will “Rule” in decision making. For example sin will forfeit the peace of Christ experientially as it is not consistent with Him or His Word. BE THANKFUL FOR THE “PEACE OF CHRIST” – His calming of the mind and heart.
5. BE THANKFUL FOR THE WORD OF CHRIST – 3:16
The Word of Christ can “save you”- Col 1:6
The Word of Christ; will “free you up”-John 8:32
The Word of Christ will “Build you up”-Acts 20:23
The Word of Christ will “Wise you up”- Heb 5:13-14
The Word of Christ will equip you to sufficient to help others- Col 3:16
The Word of Christ- “reveals” Jesus Christ “to you”-Luke 24:27, 45
Give thanks continually for “the Word of Christ” in your praying.
6. BE THANKFUL FOR THE ABILITY TO DO ALL IN THE NAME OF CHRIST – 3:17. Paul narrows down that all life that is done whether by work or word can be summarized in this. Do it all in alignment with His character… His Word and Be thankful and Give thanks…. that you can
7. BE SATURATING YOUR PRAYING WITH THANKSGIVING – 4:2. What is it that will keep you praying fervently and not becoming spiritually sleepy or dull but alert to the spiritual realities around you of the souls of men, the honor of Christ etc? Giving Thanks… Thanksgiving is the oil as it were to keep the engine going….Paul then goes on to ask for PRAYER for him for opportunities to share the Gospel!
Be thankful to GOD in your praying!
1. – Be Thankful for the SAINTS -and SPECIFICALLY what is true of them – 1:3-7
2. – Be Thankful for the Father’s Salvation 1:12-14
3. – Be Thankful for Spiritual Progress – 2:6
4. – Be Thankful for the Peace of Christ – 3:15
5. -Be Thankful for the Word of Christ – 3:16
6. -Be Thankful For the ability to do all in the name of Christ- 3:17
7. -Be SATURATING Praying with Thanksgiving – 4:2
By using the 7 Reasons to help CULTIVATE a Heart of thanksgiving IN YOUR praying
PERSONALIZE THE ABOVE…”I am Thankful to You LORD for…” and list the 7 Blessings. For those of you who like to write notes in your Bible. You could write the 7 references beside each verse to remind yourself of what to be thankful for when you pray and also to SHARE with others 7 reasons of what and How to be thankful in YOU Praying. “OH GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD FOR HE IS GOOD”
APPLICATION;
1. – HIDE COLOSSIANS 4:2 in your heart. Memorize it, Meditate upon each word and be able to explain it.
2. PRAY and ASK GOD TO remind you to be THANKFUL. DO WHAT HE SAYS .Apply This Verse! APPLY it. Work at Being a THANKFUL Person To God!
3. PRACTICE THANKSGIVING IN YOUR PRAYING… by incorporating the 7 reasons Paul gives in Colossians. BE SPECIFIC!
4. – SHARE the 7 REASONS TO BE THANKFUL WITH SOMEONE THIS WEEK. Perhaps in your Bible make a note of each reference to thanks so you can show someone- and remind yourself.
SUGGESTED PRAYER; – “Dear Heavenly Father
I THANK You for Your saints- Your people- whose FAITH, LOVE, HOPE, RECEPTION of Your Word is manifested in their living.
I THANK You Heavenly FATHER for AUTHORIZING my and their salvation.
I THANK You for the INHERITANCE we have.
I THANK You for RESCUING me and them.
I THANK You Father for TRANSFERRING me and them from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Your Beloved Son.
I THANK You, Father for Redemption.
I THANK You Father for FORGIVENESS, PARDON for all of my sins- and for theirs too!
I THANK You Father for Your Gift of SALVATION to me and Your people!
I THANK You for SPIRITUAL PROGRESS in them becoming more thankful.
I THANK You for the PEACE OF CHRIST.
I THANK You for the WORD OF CHRIST.
I THANK You for being able to speak or do all of life with THANKSGIVING .
I Thank You I can continually be PRAYING with much to be THANKFUL for!
{The above prayer I have tried to use to give you an idea of what praying with Thanksgiving looks like. DELIBERATELY using the Scriptures and truths from it by incorporating words from the 7 passages Paul gives on THANKSGIVING… and with each THANKS GIVEN …GOD IS GLORIFIED. Luke 17:18 ….and thanksgiving “…IS the Will of God for you in Christ Jesus!- 1 Thess 5:18} So you can confidently know you are DOING GOD’S REVEALED Will and GLORIFYING HIM as you Give Him Thanksgiving! …UNTIL IT BECOMES A HABIT OF THANKSGIVING AND GOD BE GLORIFIED…
WITH EACH “THANK YOU” GOD IS GLORIFIED; IF YOU GO BACK AND COUNT…YOU WILL SEE THERE IS 13 ” I THANK YOU”…IN THE ABOVE PRAYER BASED ON THE SCRIPTURES…THAT IS 13 TIMES YOU CAN…GLORIFY GOD… AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HOW YOU…”FEEL”- THAT IS GREAT, GREAT NEWS!!
WHO OR WHAT IS STOPPING YOU? NO ONE OUTSIDE OF YOURSELF CAN STOP YOU FROM SAYING “THANK YOU” TO YOUR LORD!!
YOU NOW HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OF 7 REASONS TO GIVE THANKS TO GOD.... NOW YOU CAN CHOOSE TO IMPLEMENT THIS INTO YOUR PRAYING…through personalizing each of the 7 Reasons….”I am Thankful to You Lord for…”
BE A DOER OF THE WORD!
BE DELIBERATE…PRACTICE- PRACTICE- PRACTICE GIVING GOD THANKS …IN YOUR PRAYING!
HOW OFTEN DOES THE LORD HEAR YOU SAY “THANK YOU?”…TIME TO BEGIN A FRESH WITH THE information from the verses above as a HELP to you in cultivating a heart of thankfulness in YOUR praying!…Go ahead … Give thanks and don’t stop
” I THANK MY GOD FOR YOU…!”- COL 1:3