10/27/2021
We pray in expectant intercession for others, and when God has answered our prayers for them, we should thank the Lord in prayer, and celebration, just as intensely as we first prayed for His help, His goodness, and for His mercy. Answered prayer, whether for ourselves, or others, is meant to serve God’s will, and to glorify Him. Are we as diligent in giving Him thanks as we once were in asking for His help? Do all of the intercessors give thanks as one… glorifying Him for all to see, and giving each witness the opportunity to join in the blessing by saying Amen?
“You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.”
2 Corinthians 1:11 ESV
When Paul wrote to the Corinthians he gave them the real reason why they should help him in prayer… it was so that many would give thanks to God for the blessings they witnessed Him giving to Paul. We often spend more time thanking the Lord for answering our prayers, and too little time thanking Him for the effect that His answer has had on the many who saw Him moving. Sometimes we feel smug regarding our intercession and thank God for answering OUR prayer instead of thanking Him for ALLOWING us to come to Him in prayer. Prayer is a privilege we are granted, and something we should enter into humbly, not a tool we use to move God.
“if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV
One of the most significant lessons we teach our children is how to give thanks, not only by saying the words, but with a humble and grateful heart. If we don’t teach that lesson then the words “Thank You” are hollow, and a lie.
“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.”
Psalm 9:1-2 ESV
When my children were young they would occasionally argue, or hurt one another. When this happened I would make the offender apologize and hug the one they had wronged. Sometimes these apologies weren’t very sincere, and the hug was more like a quick embrace that said “Take That!”, and became a continuation of the offense rather than an act of honest remorse. When that happened I didn’t let it end there… I would continue the lesson until I was satisfied that the apology was an honest one, and that the expression of sorrow for the offense was heart felt. On occasion this could take quite some time, but in the end it taught them how to acknowledge their faults, and make amends. Later, as adults, these lessons gave them the ability to sincerely resolve conflict. It is the same in giving thanks to God. We should feel it in our heart, and not just give Him a cursory “Thanks” as we proceed to take the glory for what He has done.
“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.”
1 John 3:18-20 ESV
So when we pray, asking God for ourselves, or others, we should give honest and sincere thanks when He answers us. The Lord knows our heart, and can recognize our sincerity as well as our insincerity, but when we give Him the glory for His blessings, then many will join us in giving Him thanks and hearts will be turned to Him as we hear their AMENs echoing from the mountaintops, and through the valleys of humble prayer.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for allowing us to come to you in prayer, and for not only hearing our confessions, and our desires, but our heartfelt thanksgiving as you bless us. Hear us as we raise our voices in jubilant thanksgiving, and hear our loving moans when our hearts are too full of gratitude to find the words. Know our hearts Father, and help us to show your glory to many so that they might believe, and bend their knees before you. Holy, Holy,Holy, are you our God to whom all glory is due, and from whom all blessings flow. Praised be your name for every prayer you receive, and each blessing you pour out upon us. Great are you in provision, mighty are you in our defense, humble are you in your love for us, and merciful are you in the grace you give us though we are undeserving. Cleanse us with the blood of Christ as we kneel before you in remorse, and repentance. Wash away our sins, and purify our hearts as we pray tears of contrition. Lift us up Holy Father, seeing the image of Christ in us, and seat us at your table forevermore as the heavenly host sings out “Glory to God on the highest!”
Rich Forbes