Thankful Prayers – The Presidential Prayer Team

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. – Philippians 4:6

When you receive a gift, you thank the giver. Reciprocating by giving thanks is a loving and emotionally healthy thing to do. In today’s verse, thanksgiving comes alongside the requests, before the answer is given. Before you even open your mouth to make a request of the Lord, it is reasonable for you to give thanks. He is worthy. He has given humanity this beautiful world that He made as a home. He sent His Son to die for each person’s sin so those who believe may receive right-standing with God and the promise of eternal life. Regardless of whether or not He ever answered another prayer, He is worthy of thanksgiving because of who He is and what He has done.

However, His promise is to answer prayer. E. M. Bounds writes, “It is the answer to prayer which brings things to pass, changes the natural trend of things, and orders all things according to the will of God.” He adds, “Answered prayer is the proof of your real praying… The answer to prayer is the part of prayer which glorifies God.”

If it appears that your prayers are unanswered, continue to pray and study God’s Word, trusting Him to reveal to you what is happening. Perhaps you are asking amiss (James 4:3), or the answer may be on its way like it was with Daniel (Daniel 10:12-13). Are you persevering (Luke 18:1), believing (Matthew 21:22), and asking for God’s will to be done (Matthew 6:10)? Or you might consider fasting (Matthew 6:6-18). Pray that God will be glorified in the answers to your prayers for the nation. Pray for eyes to open to God’s worthiness and His promises in Christ.

Today’s Verse: Philippians 4:6

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: John 16:16-24

¹⁶“A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” ¹⁷So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” ¹⁸So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” ¹⁹Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? ²⁰Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. ²¹When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. ²²So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. ²³In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. ²⁴Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.