Nov.20.02: Light For The Day - "Thankful in Prayer"

-- Colossians 4:2 (NIVUS)
"Devote yourselves to prayer,
being watchful and thankful."

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Prayer isn't just God for something we want.
Prayer should also include confession of sin,
and praise to God for who He is and what
He has done for us.

But prayer should have an additional element,
and that is thanksgiving.
Repeatedly the Bible commands us to give thanks.
The Psalmist said, "Oh, give thanks to the LORD,
for He is good! For His mercy endures forever" (Ps. 107:1).

Jesus only distributed the bread He had miraculously provided
for the crowds after "He had given thanks" (Matthew 15:36).

At the Last Supper with His disciples, before facing
the horror of the Cross, Jesus "gave thanks"
(Luke 22:17,19).

It's easy to be thankful when God blesses us with
something good -- swift recovery from an illness,
for example, or an advancement at work.
But the Bible says we should "give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God's will for [us] in Christ Jesus" (1 Thess. 5:18).

Thankfulness drives away a sour or prideful spirit.
Make it part of your prayers every day.

-- Billy Graham

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-- Psalm 30:12 (NIVUS)
"... O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever."

-- Psalms 7:17
"I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness
and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High."

-- Psalms 28:7
"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him,
and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks
to him in song."

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