The Prayer of Thanks
Devotions from Colossians

12a Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

What prayer has any value without "thanks unto the Father?" None, I say! Later on in this grand letter we will discover  Colossians 3:15 which states, "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."

Today in our text Paul says he is "thanking the Father for making the Colossian Saints, as well as all Believers, partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light." There is much to be thankful for and Paul would certainly not leave any stone unturned as he would attempt to be mindful to give the Father abundant praise in thanksgiving for the bountiful blessings Paul had received. Even more, Paul would thank the Lord on behalf of others. He could see the grand work and blessings in such folks as the Colossians and he felt bound, and was determined, that the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ receive all glory, honor, praise, and much thanksgiving for that that They do in the lives of the Saints.

That Paul would pray an intercessory prayer of thanksgiving for the Colossians shows how he felt that God was not praised enough. Not that the Colossains were remiss in this category, for I don't believe they were. But there are many who always have the hand out wanting something from the Lord and then forget, or just plain fail, to thank the Lord for what He does for them. Come on! Think about it. How often have you heard prayers of pleadings? And there is nothing wrong with that. But how many times have you heard a prayer that was absolutely a genuine praise and thanksgiving offering unto the Lord? In my estimation the greater prayer is that one that offers much thanks to the Lord extoling Him for all that He does without our ever asking a thing. He is mindful of our needs and supplies those needs according to His riches in glory. Don't get me wrong. I am sure that He does not mind hearing the pleading requests of His children. But I believe that the Lord is overwhelmed with joy when we by faith know that all our needs are met and spend our time happily and graciously thanking Him for all His graces and mercies upon us with our prayers. You watch the blessings abound when you do!

There is much that vexes us in this world, and there is much that we must ask God for. But Saint, give thy Father thanks, for great things He hath done already for you. Don't be so absent minded that you neglect such a worthy exercise. Every prayer ought to contain the element of thanksgiving. How about taking the time each day to pray a prayer of praise and worship extoling the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father? They would be pleased to hear from you! 1Thessalomians 5:18 tells us, "in every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." Paul told young Timothy in 1Timothy 2:1, "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men." Obviously, Paul felt the need to do what all men would not do themselves in thanksgiving to God. Thus, Paul tells us in Hebrews 13:15, "By Him (Christ Jesus) therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name; Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever, Amen." If scripture verifies the performance of it and the necessity of it, let us then approach the throne of grace with a praise offering filled with thankgiving, "giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ," Ephesians 5:20, And then..."being careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God," Philipians 4:6.