Prayer is thanksgiving. It is our acknowledgment that we need to talk to God. When we talk to Him, He can speak to our hearts. Feeling His spirit makes us grateful, as our minds are transformed through the consistent act of prayer. Continual prayer that gives way to thanksgiving makes us stronger. It gives us fresh perspective on our circumstances. When we are persistent in prayer our aperture for what and who we pray for grows. Growing in strength because of prayer helps us ensure that Christ is shining through us, rather than the ways of the world. This is what we want. We want the strength of Christ to be shown to everyone we encounter, as this will bring more hearts to know God.
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.
Colossians 4:2-4 NIV
Thanking God for those in our lives is paramount to our own growth. When we thank God for each other we grow our faith in Him. Our faith is grown because He is able to dwell in us and expand our ability to love. This is His greatest commandment. To love Him and one another as we love ourselves. Isn’t this where we fall short? How much do we love ourselves? Prayer will help us love ourselves better, because we can feel His love. Then we are able to pray for others, over and over again, as He has called us to. Giving thanks in prayer fortifies the confidence we have in our own lives and prepares us to weather persecutions and trials. This kind of enduring matures us for the plans He has intended for us.
We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.
2 Thessalonians 1:3-4 NIV
Considerations for your planner:
- Are you devoted to prayer each day? Write down your prayer for today.
- Do you thank God for the people in your life? Write down who you are thankful for.
A Story of Thanksgiving Growing Strength:
I have so many testimonies I don’t no where to begin. I have been fighting medical issues for 15 plus years due to a decision that I did not pray fully about. I had a gastric band done in 2005. It has tried to devour my life, but God has been there even when I felt He was not.
This journey has led me though some really tough times and it still is. My Spiritual growth has been unbelievable. God has been calling with me to write books. Wow! How I have questioned this. I said, “God I am Ms dyslexic, the hire people to do my homework in college, and the girl that ran out of my ninth grade class because my teacher made fun of the way I wrote.”
I’m sure that He had the wrong girl. He has given me sign after sign that I know I have to put my stories on paper. The fact that I am still alive is devine intervention! We serve a great God!
- Anonymous
Strengthen the Christian Planner Family by sharing your experiences. We'd love to hear a story about God's work in your life. Use the form linked below to submit your story.
