The Daily Guide
Pray with joy
We are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 - NKJV
Inspite of everything, Paul gave thanks for brothers and sisters in Christ! Instead of lamenting the state of people and their situations, he gave thanks for them. Paul made giving thanks for them his habit. It shows us how much Paul was focused on letting his life be characterised by thanksgiving. The effect of this was that he was able pray for his fellow Christians with joy. See Phil.1:3-4.
I once heard Jerry Savelle preach on faith and joy. He explained they belong together. He said faith was like dynamite while joy was like its fuse. If think about it, we often miss out in prayer that essential ingredient of joy. Joy is what ignites your faith. Get on the path of thanksgiving in prayer and you can have present in your prayer that faith-igniting joy. You'll get a lot more answers to prayer that way. Like Paul, before getting into prayer for people, first get into praise for them! Everyone has something you can give thanks to God for! Give thanks for them and this will open the avenues of joy from your heart to ignite your faith for your requests in prayer for them.
Receive a better outlook on others by including thanksgiving for them in your prayers. Thanksgiving will get you positive about their future. It will allow you to see the Son of Righteousness shining on them and what can be for them! Before you know it, you'll be presenting your petitions in faith, hope and joy! Mal.4:2, Jer.29:11, Heb.11:1-2.
Start your prayers with thanksgiving!
Copyright © 2005 P.F. (Simon) Measures
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