Over the last few years, the National Faith & Life Team has provided prayer resources for individuals and churches within our MB family. In 2023, we moved to a monthly “Moments in Prayer” pattern that focused on prayers for the Holy Spirit to fill us! But the title “Moments in Prayer” seemed a little like our devotion to prayer was only for a few “moments” and wasn’t calling us to much effort.
If we have learned anything from the events of 2023 and our personal, church, community, national, and global challenges, prayer is a central part of how we can participate in God’s Kingdom work in the world. Prayer is part of how hostile powers are dethroned, how God’s name is lifted up, how hearts and minds are drawn to Jesus, and how healing and restoration is brought to our world in the name of Jesus. So our 2024 monthly prayer focus is being renamed “Contending in Prayer.” Contending involves earnest effort even to the point of disputing or fighting for (cf. Eph 6:12). While contending in prayer may sound like we are disputing or fighting with God, we are instead praying in order to join with God who is actively contending for his Kingdom purposes against all that is working against these purposes. We are praying diligently for God’s Kingdom to come to earth as it is in heaven, for our churches to more faithfully embrace the character and mission of that Kingdom, and for us to become transformed in prayer into the image of Jesus.
I invite you to join with others across our country as we contend in prayer daily—lifting up the name of King Jesus together, and praying for more of God’s Kingdom to be manifested on earth as it is in heaven!
January—Contending in Prayer: Gratitude Prayer
“Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.” (Dan 6:10)
“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.” (Eph 5:3-4)
“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Eph 5:18-20)
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thess 5:16-18)
Our January 2024 Contending in Prayer Guide begins with Gratitude Prayer. While it might seem that we should leave this for October and rather focus on intercession or lament, gratitude is at the forefront of contending against the powers of darkness. In one of his letters, Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) wrote that ingratitude “is the cause, beginning, and origin of all sins and misfortunes.” This may well be why Paul highlights thanksgiving as the functional replacement for obscenity, foolish talk, or course joking (Eph 5:3-4) and as a natural outgrowth of being filled with the Spirit (cf. Eph 5:20). And in case we assume that gratitude is appropriate only when we are experiencing blessing, 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 implores us to “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
So gratitude prayers are one of the most significant ways of contending against sin, dethroning the idolatries of covetousness and greed, and drawing us into greater health with God, others, creation, and ourselves. Gratitude prayers move us closer to the heart of God’s Kingdom and God’s character. Meister Eckhart (1260-1327) is famously given credit for saying: “If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is—Thank You—it will be enough.”
So gratitude prayers are all about saying Thank you! While all gratitude prayers can be meaningful and transformative, the most significant ones are those that bring us to a state of deep contentment and appreciation for what we have been given (cf. 1 Tim 6:6-10)—our life, our physical body with all of its pros and cons, our experience of salvation through Jesus and the filling of the Holy Spirit, our community of people we call family, our church community, our experience of physical provision, and so on. Gratitude prayers are part of contending against all that steals, kills, and destroys. Gratitude prayers are Kingdom prayers.
Consider:
- Where do you need to grow in gratitude?
- Where do you especially need to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thess 5:17)?
- How can gratitude prayer become a daily part of your prayer life for 2024?
Gratitude Prayer—
Praying in the Pattern of Psalm 136:
For January, we will be praying along with Psalm 136 which is one of the most beautiful gratitude prayers in Scripture with its powerful refrain that God’s love endures forever. Read each section slowly out loud as a prayer (feel free to change the pronouns from “he” and “his” to “You” and “Your”). In the middle section, add as many personal and/or church family items of gratitude as possible.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.
…
Give thanks to the LORD, for ______________________________
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the LORD, for ______________________________
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the LORD, for ______________________________
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the LORD, for ______________________________
His love endures forever.
He remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.
and freed us from our enemies.
His love endures forever.
He gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.
Thank you, LORD, and Amen!
