HOW THEN SHOULD WE PRAY? – “PRAY WITHOUT CEASING”
June 25, 2026HOW THEN SHOULD WE PRAY? – “KNOWING THAT PRAYER HAS POWER”
June 27, 2026What are our thoughts about God our Father, and the LORD Jesus Christ, when we think about prayer? What words flood our hearts and minds, when we think about our God, the Creator and the Redeemer, as we approach Him in prayer? Gordon B. Hinckley, writes this about the LORD God Almighty, the God of the Bible and prayer.
– “Let us never forget to pray. God lives. He is near. He is real. He is not only aware of us but cares for us. He is our Father. He is accessible to all who will seek Him.” – Gordon B. Hinckley
Hinckley’s heart is focused upon God, His goodness, His grace, His mercy, His care and His kindness towards us. Let us never forget that, rightfully speaking, we have no standing whatsoever before the LORD Jesus Christ. If God thus related with us, despite our unworthy standing, “How then should we respond to such generous love, kindness and mercy?” HOW THEN SHOULD WE PRAY?
The Word of God, which reveals the heart and mind of the LORD God Almighty, our Creator and our Redeemer, has something to speak to us through the words of the apostle Paul, to the young Church at Philippi.
– “6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7
“PRAYING WITH THANKSGIVING” in our hearts is one of the core emphasis of the above verse. “PRAY WITH THANKSGIVING” is an exhortation of the LORD to all His disciples and His children. Prayer which is generously embellished with thanksgiving is a reflection of our hearts and our understanding about God our Father and our LORD. Many a child of God who had ever prayed to the LORD Jesus would readily attest to this.
– “A prayer of thanksgiving to God is a deliberate expression of gratitude for who God is and what He has done. It goes beyond thanking God for things you can see. It also appreciates Him for what you cannot yet see…thanksgiving is…Recognizing God as your source; Acknowledging His faithfulness; Celebrating His goodness (past, present, and future). This means you don’t wait until everything is perfect before you give thanks. You give thanks because God is good, regardless of the situation.” – Oluwajuwon Oladiti
A few more Scripture portions for our proper and meaningful learning about prayer and thanksgiving.
– “1 Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! 2 Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. 3 Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. 4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. 5 For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.” – Psalm 100
– “20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” – Ephesians 5:20
– “16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Thanksgiving should be an integral part of all our prayers. If we have truly experienced God of the Bible in our lives, then thanksgiving should come most naturally to us – whenever we think about God, let alone in prayer.
– A heart that approaches God with thanksgiving is a heart that know who God truly is.
– A heart that wants to thank God is a heart that is willing to acknowledge God’s goodness, His grace and His mercy.
– A heart that amplifies thanksgiving in their lives, is a heart that is willing to trust God with all its struggles and storms, and faithfully obey Him in whatever direction the LORD Jesus wants to lead us.
Prayer without thanksgiving is no prayer at all. We thank God for all what He had answered in the past. We should thank God for all He will answer in the future. Therefore, IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS, and “PRAY WITH THANKSGIVING” always. Even so, the LORD help us.
