The Presidential Prayer Team

With the voice of thanksgiving I will sacrifice to you. – Jonah 2:9

When someone makes a sacrifice, they are giving up something they want or need on behalf of another rather than out of abundance. The gift puts a person or God ahead of the giver’s own desires and well-being. Hebrews 13:16 says, “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

The verse before that declares that praise itself is a sacrifice, “Through [Jesus] then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name“ (v. 15). What is a person giving up by expressing thanksgiving? Maybe some pride, acknowledging that it is not your own hand that got you good things. Perhaps it is reputation. You have to release any concern about what others think as you testify to your faith. Or maybe it is your time and attention. It is easy to get caught up in daily living and forget to thank God for the good things in your life. Whatever sacrifice you make to offer Him thanksgiving, it is well worth giving God the praise due His name, putting your focus on Him, and yielding yourself to His mercy and grace.

In your prayer time today, offer the Lord praise and thanksgiving. Commit to generously share with others out of gratitude from your heart for what He has given you. Thank Him for answered prayer as you intercede for the public officials in the United States. Pray that God will open the spiritual eyes and ears of its leaders to put their trust in the Lord.

Today’s Verse: Jonah 2:9

But I with the voice of thanksgiving
    will sacrifice to you;
what I have vowed I will pay.
    Salvation belongs to the Lord!”

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: Romans 12:1-13

12  I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. ²Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

³For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. ⁴For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, ⁵so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. ⁶Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; ⁷if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; ⁸the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

⁹Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. ¹⁰Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. ¹¹Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. ¹²Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. ¹³Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.