Prayer with Thanksgiving

It can be difficult to enter into prayer with a spirit of thanksgiving and acceptance when we harbour a spirit of non-acceptance and not much thanksgiving for the daily realities we find ourselves in. The challenge for each one of us is to equally have a spirit of acceptance and non-acceptance alongside expressing our complaints with thanksgiving. I have explored this intriguing dilemma more fully in a recent blog which you can check out: Acceptance with Thanksgiving

In this insight I want us to think about the life and ministry of Jesus and how he prayed, understood and completed his life mission with thanksgiving, complaint and acceptance. There are four recordings of Jesus in the New Testament where he offered up a prayer of blessing and thanksgiving as found in the feeding of the 4000 and 5000, the Passover and on the road to Emmaus. Each prayer relates to a miraculous feeding and the remembrance of Jesus’ death on the cross.

From a human point of view it is important to maintain our prayers of thanksgiving as found in Psalm 92: 1 ‘it is good to give thanks to the Lord,’ and Psalm 95: 2 ‘let us come before His presence with thanksgiving.’ It is notable that in modern times, even amongst Christians, the practise of giving thanks at meal times has almost been lost.

Such prayers give us an opportunity to stop and give thanks for all that we have received in terms of food, shelter, clothing and relationships.

Thanksgiving Prayer

In Matthew 15: 29 -36 we find Jesus healing and teaching the crowds along the Sea of Galilee. Jesus called his disciples and said: ‘I have compassion for these people.’ They had been with Jesus for three days and had nothing to eat and he did not want to send them away hungry.

The disciples questioned Jesus as to how they could feed so many that numbered around 4000. Jesus gathered seven loaves and a few fish from the disciples and told the crowd to sit down. Jesus ‘took the seven loaves and the fish and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples and they in turn to the people.’ So all that were gathered ate and were satisfied.

Eucharistic Prayer

In Luke 22: 7 – 19 we find Jesus instructing his disciples to go and make preparations for the feast of unleavened bread and the eating of the Passover. Jesus separately took the cup and then the bread and gave thanks for them, for they were to become an act of remembrance (Holy Communion) of his death which would supersede the importance of the Passover feast.

Confessional Prayer

In Luke 22: 39 – 46 we find Jesus, even in the midst of his busy ministry, taking time to pray in preparation for his arrest and crucifixion. In verse 42, Jesus asked for the ‘cup of sorrow’ to be taken from him. Jesus confirmed his love and loyalty in his ‘confession of acceptance.’ ‘”not my will but your will be done.”

Immediately an angel appeared to him and strengthened him. Jesus was in anguish and prayed more earnestly in preparation for the events to confront him. Interestingly and by comparison, the disciples fell asleep and did not continue in prayer.

In church and the community, attending a prayer meeting would be last on a list of priorities. Yet for any mission or church event to succeed it has to be surrounded in prayer with thanksgiving, complaint and acceptance. There is so much that causes us anguish and we easily get discouraged. However, if we remain in prayer we will find strength and guidance to fulfil God’s purposes which he asks from us. 

Resurrection Prayer

In Luke 24: 28 – 35 we read ofJesus appearing to the disciples on the road to Emmaus after his resurrection. After discussing the events that had taken place in Jerusalem he agreed to stay with them for awhile.

When he was at the table ‘he took bread, gave thanks, (blessed it) broke it and began to give it to them.’ Then the disciples eyes were opened and they realised it was Jesus amongst them, who then soon disappeared from their sight.

Confidence in Prayer

In prayer we can offer up our thanksgivings alongside our discontent and confusion. As we experience God’s presence our eyes are opened afresh and we are grateful for the gift of the present day, compared to the laments for the past and any fears for the future. Whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, the Lord by his spirit can grant us strength and confidence to maintain our faith and hope both individually and collectively.

Enjoy this lovely worship song about being in the presence of the Lord which makes all the difference to a daily life of faith:  To be in your presence by Noel Richards

Graham