Prayer and Supplication with Thanksgiving

 

Be careful [full of care] for nothing; but in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4: 6-7)

 

 

I think St. Paul gives us an answer here that we sometimes miss in the reading: if we want the peace of God in our lives, our prayer and supplication before God must be with thanksgiving.  How often are our prayers a litany of requests as if to a Celestial Santa Claus, with nary a thank you?  Or do we say, "Thank you for all my blessings" and then go on to a rather lengthy and specific list?  Do we ever thank Him for the trials in our lives?  For the challenges we face?  For the difficult things we must sometimes do?  Do we thank Him for the coincidences or the things we take for granted?  Do we confess His hand in all things?"(D & C 59:21) 

 

I want to leave you with my best wishes for a happy Thanksgiving day and leave you also with a challenge to be as specific in your thanks as you are in your supplication.

 

Text © 2012 Gebara Education

 

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