Prayers

Setting The Stage For Asking

by Terry Barlow
01/06/16
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There is a pattern in the epistles of the apostle Paul that when he mentions someone in prayer he often likes to precede his specific  requests with thanksgiving to God for those mentioned.  (Ephesians 1 v 16, Romans 1 v8, 2Thessalonians 2 v16)  Even and maybe especially when praying  for kings and all those in authority we are exhorted also in 1 Timothy 2 v2 to include thanksgiving for each one.  Why is this such a pronounced pattern in Scripture?  God has allowed the people in and over our lives for His own sovereign reasons.  Giving thanks for people in and over our lives helps to put us in a proper attitude of appreciation toward them in order to be able to pray correctly.   In that frame of mind we are much more likely to pray in the will of God for them and, at the same time, much less likely to pray our own selfish desires and even frustrations over their lives.

In a community of fellow believers especially,  but also in other professional contexts where it has been cultivated,  one can sense when there is a prevailing sense that it is a privilege to be a part of each others' lives,  getting to know and to relate to each other.  On the other hand and conversely,  one can also sense when that sense of relational privilege is absent.  One way to cultivate it though is to speak it into existence, "You know, I count it a privilege for me to be here with you in this......"   And if it wasn't quite a felt privilege before, slowly it begins to be.  Thankfulness sets a more positive tone.