Ephesians 1:16: Praying Thankfully

Ephesians 1:16: "do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers."

Have you ever considered that praying is one of the most deeply theological things we do? To pray is actually to express the deepest trust in the sovereign God, that He can do the impossible. It is the sincerest form of worship by which we extol His perfect knowledge and all-encompassing providence, asking Him to align our hearts with His actions which are always right and best. Unfortunately, if we fail to recognize prayer as essentially theological, we can easily turn it into a selfish "ask" fest. It becomes the means by which we make our will known in heaven rather than what it is supposed to be: a means whereby God's will is done on earth, through us.

To counter our natural tendency to see prayer as primarily selfish the biblical writers persistently stress the element of thankfulness in their admonitions to pray. Two examples from the writings of Paul demonstrate this. In Philippians 4:6 he writes "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." And again in Colossians 4:2 we read "Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving." And in the text for today we see that Paul not only exhorts us to be thankful in praying but actually practices what he preaches. In his prayers for the Ephesian believers Paul "does not cease giving thanks" for them.

It is important that we learn the lesson here. Our prayers, no matter our situation, must be seasoned always with thanksgiving in our hearts before God. It is this essential, foundational attitude that represents our mind's recognition that we are privileged to be in the very presence of a holy, omnipotent God. Because Christ has brought us near, we can talk directly to our Maker without fear of being banished or worse. To enter into His presence without an overwhelming sense of gratitude is to admit that we take His glory and grace for granted, and have developed an attitude of entitlement. This must not happen. We must be ever mindful that our God is great, and greatly to be praised, and that the love by which He has drawn us to His heart is also to be a constant source of overflowing thanksgiving.

Next time you engage with God in prayer do so with a sense of sincere thankfulness. Express your heart's appreciation for His person, His power, His provision and protection. And most of all, thank and praise Him for His redemptive love lavished upon you in so many ways. Surround all your petitions with thanksgiving and so enter into His courts with praise. It may just turn prayer into a relationship rather than a shopping trip. God knows all that you need, and all that is best for you. What He really wants is for you to know Him, and come in sincere appreciation for all He has - and will! - do through you for His glory.

Hope this helps,

David