Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life], being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving. Col. 4:2 AMPC
When I was looking for verses about Thanksgiving, this verse popped out to me. As I read it over and said it out loud something began to resonate within me. Notice it says a prayer life, not just prayers, it’s not just an action, it is a way of life. After all, how can we pray earnestly, unwearied and steadfast any other way than to make it a part of our lives. That means praying from a heart of trust and belief that our prayers will be answered. So then that leads to not getting weary in waiting and to keep praying until we see a breakthrough or hear a direction. Which leads to us being immovable no matter what we see or hear.
Now really think about those three statements, and how many times we have prayed and given up simply because we don’t see the breakthrough or answer in our time frame. This happens mainly because our prayers are just from a position of transitional requests to God in Jesus name, rather than heartfelt conversation with Abba through Jesus’ finished work. That intimate relationship then becomes our source and way of life for all things.
Now look at the last phrase of this verse, being both alert and intent, on what? The requests themselves? That would be our first thought, but the text makes it clear, that our prayers should be with hearts of thanksgiving. When we pray with hearts of thanksgiving everything changes, it builds up our faith, encourages our hearts to believe and emboldens us to ask with a hope that expects great things to happen. Thanking Him before we see the answer or the breakthrough blesses His heart because we are saying “Lord, I know who You are, the God of all wisdom, who makes the impossible, possible, who will answer me just because you love me, I am your beloved child and You are my Abba.” Now I truly believe most parents whose child comes to them in that manner can’t help but respond to their requests. And as Jesus said “So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” This Thanksgiving instead of it being just a holiday, why not make it a way of life, especially in your prayers.
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