Devotional Gems by Jolene: Praying Thanks with Authority

Friday, November 28, 2008

Praying Thanks with Authority

PRAYING THANKS WITH AUTHORITY
Psalm 91:14-15
“ ‘Because he loves me,’ says the Lord, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges My name. He will call upon Me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.’”

No matter our trouble, God is standing by ready to help. Each new day comes with its own brand of trouble; isn’t God’s deliverance from trouble worth our thanks every day?

Proverbs 15:29

“The Lord is far from the wicked but He hears the prayer of the righteous.”

When we serve and obey God, He always hears our prayers. 24/7. He’s always available when His child calls.

Matthew 7:7-11

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!”

The verse numbers 7-11 remind us of a handy store in almost every city. God is that close, and that convenient.

John 15:7

“If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you.”

There is no other religion in the world that claims a family relationship between us as children and Almighty God as Father. Forget Santa Claus—we’ve got the sovereign God of the entire universe a prayer away. Nothing could be better!

1John 5:14-15

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him.”

This means that we should thank God BEFORE we conclude our prayer of petition—certain that God already answered, “Yes.”

Hebrews 4:16

“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

God is waiting to hear from His children. He loves nothing more than our climbing onto His lap in prayer. This gives us confidence to live our lives worry-free.

Take Home Nugget

Are you a child of God? If not, now is the best time to thank Him for forgiving your sins, trusting the Lord Jesus with all your heart. He is knocking at the door to your heart. Won’t you let Him in?