It is to be feared that the Lord’s beloved people make but little use, comparatively, of their great privilege of prayer. We might well add, responsibility, for it is one of the great departments of a Christian’s business: “We will give ourselves to prayer.”
There is, however, one element in prayer to which we desire to call special attention, as expressed in the two words quoted. The Lord’s people have very much to pray for; they have even more to give thanks for.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (Eph. 1:3). These include every spiritual and eternal blessing—forgiveness, justification, peace, eternal life, sealing, glory. They may be summed up in that word of the Apostle, “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.” Now these blessings are ours, we do not have to pray for them, but let us not forget to give unceasing thanks for them.
Coming next to what may be called the ordinary mercies for the way (although most extraordinary, so far as our desert is concerned), do we remember to give thanks for life, health, food, shelter and the countless temporal mercies we enjoy in common with a thoughtless and thankless world? If they are silent, shall we not much rather return our daily and hourly thanks?
Then there are the special mercies—of answered prayer for recoveries from illness; for guidance; special provision for emergencies; employment, and more. Let us count the answers to our prayers, and be as sincere in our gratitude as in our supplications.
And as to others: has God heard our prayers for the conversion of this one; the deliverance of another; for reviving in our meeting? Let our thanks go to Him.
“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20.