PRAY WITH THANKSGIVING Speaker: Dr. Paul Dhinakaran Gist: God will answer all your prayers, when you submit everything at His feet with praises and thanksgiving. God loves to hear your supplication with praises and thanksgiving. Prayer is the only way to have a relationship with Him. His presence will fill you, when you start praising and thanking Him.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)
Paul and Silas, the servants of God, travelled around the world and preached the love of God. They cast out demons in the name of Jesus. They healed the sick with their prayers. But, some people, who were jealous of them brought false accusations against them and they were thrown into the prison. They were not troubled by the predicament and they did not blame God for the mishap.
“But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.” (Acts 16:25)
All through the night they praised and exalted God and supplicated their prayers with thanksgiving. As they praised God, singing songs exalting Him, the presence of God descended into the prison. Immediately the earth trembled and the foundations of the prison were shaken. The chains with which they were bound were untied. In a moment they were all liberated. The jailer and other officials, who were guarding the prison were amazed and they began to call Paul and Silas, as “The Ambassadors of God!”.
Similarly, you might be bound by the people in authority. You might be distressed because of the wrath of evil people and the hatred of your own family. Let not your heart be troubled. Submit everything at the feet of God and exalt and glorify Him by telling, “God,I praise you!”
The Lord, Who dwells amidst praises, listening to the fruit of our lips, would descend unto us to acknowledge our sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:15).
The Almighty God will come as the King of Kings and break all your bound chains created by man and the devil. Therefore, supplicate your prayers with praises and thanksgiving to the Lord. This revering of God with your praises brings His presence.
There is a snack called “Hamburger”. It is made of delicious and tasty vegetarian or non-vegetarian food-stuff sandwiched between two slices of bread. When people eat the tasteless slices of bread with the relishing food stuff kept in the middle along with sauce, they enjoy its taste.
Dear friend, the “Hamburger” tastes extremely good and we love to eat it. In the same way, when you supplicate your prayer requests to God integrated with praises and thanksgiving, He would love its sweet fragrance and acknowledge your petitions. Your acclaiming of God’s glory will melt His heart. He would answer your requests immediately. So, seek Him with adoration and praise.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
I praise and thank You for all the blessings that you have showered on me throughout my life. Strengthen me to supplicate my prayer request with thanksgiving. Whatever may be the situations, help me to praise and exalt You. Let Your presence go before me and make all the crooked paths straight.
In Jesus’ glorious name, I pray.
Amen.
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