Prayer and Giving Thanks
By: Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 03/10/2018
1. Giving Thanks and Prayer.
a. The giving of thanks and thanksgiving is an important aspect of prayer.b. 1 Timothy 2:1 KJV – “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men...”
c. Give thanks to God in spite of your situation.
d. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV – “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
e. Don’t pray the problem – pray the answer.
f. Confess God’s Word as you give thanks.
g. Colossians 1:3 KJV – “We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you.”
h. Do not worry about anything – pray in faith – with thanksgiving.
i. Philippians 4:6 KJV – “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
j. Ask God for what you need AND thank Him for it, at the same time.
k. Many people are asking God for what they need, but they forget to give thanks to the Lord.
l. We give thanks BEFORE we receive the answer.
m. We give thanks in faith and expectation.
2. Come into His Presence with Thanksgiving in Your Heart and in Your Mouth.
a. Everything we need is in God’s presence.
b. We need to come into God’s presence to ask for what we need.
c. Hebrews 4:16 KJV – “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
d. The way we enter into God’s presence is through our worship and thanksgiving.
e. Psalm 100:4 KJV – “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”
f. Often, God’s people are not walking in His blessings, because they have been ungrateful.
g. Deuteronomy 28:47 says that God’s people were cursed with a curse, “Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness of [mind and] heart [in gratitude] for the abundance of all [with which He had blessed you].” (AMP)
h. It is a good thing to regularly “count your blessings” and give thanks to the Lord for them.
i. Hebrews 13:15 KJV – “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”
3. Worship and Give Thanks.
a. Worship the Lord for His mighty works.
b. Psalm 107:22 KJV – “And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.”
c. Thank Him for Who He is and for what He has done for you.
d. Psalm 116:17 KJV – “I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord.”
e. Speak out your thanks and also sing your praises to Him.
f. Psalm 147:7 KJV – “Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God.”
g. Worship and give thanks for His goodness and faithfulness.
h. Psalm 92:1-2 KJV – “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High. 2 To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night.”
i. It is a good time to worship and give thanks to Him any time of the day or night.
j. Psalm 119:62 KJV – “At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.”
k. Give THANKS to the LORD for He is GOOD and His MERCY endures FOREVER.
l. Psalm 136:1-3 KJV – “O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 2 O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. 3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.”
m. The righteous give thanks.
n. Psalm 140:13 KJV – “Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.”
o. Psalm 33:1 AMPC – “Rejoice in the Lord, O you [uncompromisingly] righteous [you upright in right standing with God]; for praise is becoming and appropriate for those who are upright [in heart].”
p. Don’t let a stone do your job!
q. Luke 19:37-40 KJV – “And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; 38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. 39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.”
r. Give Him thanks because you already have the victory.
s. 1 Corinthians 15:57 KJV – “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”