12th January 2021
THE MODEL PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
David Abankwah
READ: Psalms 35:18; 107:8
In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
-Matthew 6:9 | NKJV
To know how to do something better, you have to be taught. An apprentice who thinks he knows it all, cannot be at the best like his Master. To know how to pray well, you have to be taught. In many churches, the congregation is not taught how to pray. They pray wrongly thinking they are praying effectively and fervently. Because God saw that we pray wrongly, He came down to lay down the model prayer for us in Matthew 6:9-13. All prayer topics in life, Godliness, and ministry are all found in the Lord’s prayer. Many believers usually recite the Lord’s prayer like a rhyme thinking they are praying but they are not. The Lord’s prayer is not a rhyme but prayer points. They guide us on what to pray for or against and not what to rhyme.
The first prayer topic of the Lord’s model prayer, is the prayer of thanksgiving. Prayer of thanksgiving is the most important prayer topic you can ever pray, but most believers do not do it. If they will even do it, they apportion little time. They usually allocate more time for petition or give me prayer topics more than thanksgiving. We normally think that when we pour our hearts out concerning what we need and want, God will do it for us, but it doesn’t work that way. Sometimes the answers to your petition prayers are delayed, because you pray wrongly. Praying wrongly is giving more time for what you want or need from God to do for you than what you have to do for God.
When prayer of thanksgiving is even raised in church, many believers don’t pray it seriously. You will see them roaming about showing no spirit or little charisma. The time for thanksgiving prayers is even shorter than the rest. But when prayers of marriage, children, jobs, travelling mercies, prosperity, protection, praying against evil spirits etc are raised, you will see the same people who were dull for the session of thanksgiving, energetic, praying effectively and fervently for the session of prayers of supplication. The will of God is that we should thank Him always. In everything give thanks; for this is the WILL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS FOR YOU -I Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV.
The will of God is not that we always come before Him with petitions. What do you label someone who always come to you for what he needs and not what he can do for you? Wouldn’t you label the person an opportunistic and a selfish person? That is what God sees us when we always come to Him for things we need. Apportion more time to thank God in your prayer sessions. You may think you have nothing to thank God for, but the breath of life is enough to thank Him for. Don’t be an ungrateful fellow. For some people, whatever God does for them, they will still find excuse not to thank Him. Ungratefulness is a sin and it will lead many to hell. If you are ungrateful, you can’t serve God well.
•| Prayer Diary |•
Lift up prayers and thank God for your life, Godliness, and ministry. Thank Him for the church, your family, friends, loved ones and physical enemies. Thank Him for those in authorities He has placed over you in the name of Jesus Christ.
Quote
It is because of ungratefulness that is why many believers can’t carry out the Great Commission
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© 2021 David Abankwah
David Abankwah 