Praise and thanksgiving is the first response to God’s Character. Everything about God, His perence, His holiness, His Power, His Mercy and mostly His Steadfast Enduring LOVE!
“Can anyone measure the magnificence of Yahweh the great, and His inexpressible grandeur?” ( Jerusalem Bible)
“what can I render to the LORD (YWHW) for all His benefits to me?… I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the Name of the LORD.”( ESV)
Under the Law of Moses there was a particular offering for Thanksgiving, but under Christ this was abolished. But in our prayer we offer God our thanksgiving daily for we acknowledge that His sacrifice was the greatest gift we have received from God. AS great as God is, He thought it not unworthy to give up all to become man, live and die for us and reconcile us to Himself. () “For in Him (Jesus) all the fullness of God (Adoni)was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross.” ( ESV)
IN prayer we confess His Holiness and proclaim His Glory, we also confess our lack of holiness, all our sins and misgivings. IN prayer we Praise Him, we Glorify Him We offer thanksgiving and we then call upon Him to intercede for us and for the needs of others.
“Have mercy upon me , O God
according to your steadfast love
according to your abundant mercy,
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin!” ( ESV)
In prayer we see the graciousness of God, His Mercy and Holiness, His immense love for us, and for all His people. We also respond to His Power and Wisdom. For without God we are nothing, we would not be and nothing we do can be of significance at all. At yet in spite of it, we can come to him with our requests and He will respond with loving kindness.
This is the nature, the Character of Go, that He would care. And this is why we prayer.
Listen
2:1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, [1] 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, [2] being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy’s [3] proven worth, how as a son [4] with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.
25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me. (ESV)
Listen)
19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
Colossians 1:20 (Listen
19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
Colossians 1:20 (Listen)
20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (ESV)