THE SECRET OF POWERFUL PRAYER: THANKSGIVING

'He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously."  Daniel 6:10

One of my favorite men in all the bible is Daniel. God said to Daniel 3 times “You are greatly loved”.

• “At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved” (Daniel 9:23)
• “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you” (Daniel 10:11)
• “And he said, ‘O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage” (Daniel 10:19).

Greatly loved by God and in that experience of Gods love Daniel is special to me because of the fact that he prayed to his God who greatly loved him. He prayed 3 times a day. It is the attitude that he had in prayer that moves and inspires me. "'He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previosly." Do you see this? Three times a day. Daniel prayed with thanksgiving for all that God was towards him: lover, giver, provider, protector, deliverer, sustainer, savior, ruler.

Daniel was a world changer, mover, and shaker who in his prayers was dripping with thanksgiving. Gratitude ushered Daniel into heart of God's love, the place where all the power to change the world, you, and me resides.

For prayer to be really prayer, to have real power, to change anything , must first be speaking thanks.
Paul teaches us to do what Daniel did, "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God" (Philippians 4:6). "I tell you to pray for all people, asking God for what they need and being thankful to him" (1 Timothy 2:1 NCV)

Oh how God wants us to cling to his love, care, and goodness. Prayer with thanksgiving brings our focus and thinking and affections and attention solely to His goodness and mercy that "shall pursue us all the days of our life" (Psalm 23:6). It is thinking about His goodness that causes us to have a default prayer posture to be thanking God supremely for His goodness.

The goodness of His nature
The goodness of His grace
The goodness of His love
The goodness of His mercy
The goodness of His kindness
The goodness of His purposes
The goodness of His generosity
The goodness of His provisions
The goodness of His friendship and fellowship
The goodness of His salvation

When I let my mind begin to think about His goodness and I begin thanking Him for His goodness I please Him the most and live the most joyfully in my heart.

Daniel was a man of prayer because he was a man who saw Gods goodness and was a man of thanks.
THE ONLY WAY TO BE A MAN OR WOMAN OF PRAYER IS TO BE A MAN OR WOMAN OF THANKS.

Could it be that what shut lions mouths and speak powerfully to kings and nations is everyday thanksgiving prayer.

Pastor Bill