“DEVOTE YOURSELVES TO PRAYER, KEEPING ALERT IN IT, IN THANKSGIVING”- {Col 4:2}
Note the commands to – “KEEP PRAYING and STAYING ALERT… ” which are to be continuous, to be the habit of our lives. Look at the third aspect in the verse – THANKSGIVING! We want to note, Paul in Colossians makes 7 references …or reasons to be thankful. So join with me as we look at CULTIVATING THANKFULNESS IN OUR PRAYING…. and BE ENCOURAGED!!
7 REASONS TO BE THANKFUL TO GOD… AND TO INCORPORATE INTO 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 your Praying with Thanksgiving- {4:2}
By using the 7 Reasons to help CULTIVATE a Heart of thanksgiving IN YOUR praying…PERSONALIZE each one, “I Thank YOU Father for…” and name each of the 7 Blessing’s. In doing so according to Jesus of the one healed leper who returned to give Thanks to Him and Glorified God in doing so- { Luke 17:14-19}. So GIVING GOD THANKS… GLORIFIES HIM! TO THANK HIM FOR THE ABOVE ACTS OF LOVE TOWARDS YOU MENTIONED ABOVE IS TO glorify him 7 times!!!
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 prayer!
Thanksgiving is the will of God for you, glorifies God, is an evidence of a maturing Christian{Col 1:9, 12-14} and is essential in Col 4:2-4, for developing and maintaining an eternal minded prayer life.
Incorporate the above 7 Reasons into your praying to Help Stay awake in praying and GLORIFY HIM in doing so!