How Thanksgiving and Prayer Work Together

The following is an excerpt from With Thanksgiving on the connection between prayer and thanksgiving.

The initial inspiration for writing this book came to me one day when I read the following Scripture: “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2). As I meditated on that verse, the words with thanksgiving stuck out to me. Paul is giving a charge to remain steadfast and earnest in prayer. But notice that he emphasizes the importance of including thanksgiving along with our prayers. I was struck by the thought that prayer without thanksgiving is incomplete.

I was also reminded of a similar passage where Paul includes the importance of joining thanksgiving with our petitions and requests.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Notice that the phrase with thanksgiving is used again. And it is sandwiched between wording that speaks of praying to God and lifting up requests to Him. Paul exhorts the Philippians not to allow themselves to be anxious about anything but to instead bring their petitions to God in prayer. But he emphasizes that along with making requests and supplications, they should be sure to also include thanksgiving. The result of this type of praying is that God’s peace will guard their hearts and minds.

When Paul urged Timothy regarding the importance and priority of prayer, he once more made sure to include thanksgiving: “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people” (1 Timothy 2:1 ESV). Prayer can involve many elements. We can praise and worship the Lord, ask for our needs to be met, intercede for others, confess sin, call out for deliverance, wait quietly in God’s presence, pray in tongues, and more. But we must not neglect the importance of giving thanks. Without thanksgiving, prayer is incomplete!

Peace Through Thanksgiving

As I was in the middle of writing this book, someone who serves on my ministry team shared a testimony with me that perfectly illustrates the importance of including thanksgiving with our prayers. She had experienced a series of stressful situations over a period of a few months and was seeking the Lord for answers. She tried to keep her eyes on Him through this time but found herself coming under heaviness and anxiety.

One night as she lay in bed, feeling the weight and stress of her circumstances, she got honest with God about the anxiety she was experiencing. She asked the Lord what to do about it and immediately heard the words of Philippians 4:6-7 in her spirit: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

As these words poured into her heart, the Holy Spirit began to show her that while she had been praying and interceding for the troubling situations, she had neglected to do so with thanksgiving. So, she immediately responded by repenting for not giving thanks and began to offer up thanksgiving to God. She thanked Him for speaking to her from His Word and for His help and answers to the difficult things she had been facing for the previous few months. The weight and anxiety lifted off her that very moment. She experienced a tangible peace from the Lord in her heart and mind and was able to quickly fall sound asleep.

Isn’t it amazing how God’s Word was so directly demonstrated in this testimony? It is an example of the reality of Philippians 4:6-7 and the importance of giving thanks. The peace of God came as prayer and thanksgiving were joined together.

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The topic of thanksgiving can be found woven throughout the pages of Scripture, but we have often not seen its true value and significance in the life of a believer. With Thanksgiving is all about the transforming power of giving thanks. It is a short but powerful study on the topic of thanksgiving.