Thanksgiving in Answered Prayer

Introduction:

We are considering this time as a time of thanksgiving and considering what the Bible teaches us about the subject

How often do we stop and consider answered prayers?

Are there times where we neglect being thankful?

Was it because the prayer was not answered the way we ask?

Is it possible we didn’t even realize it had been answered?

Let us read together Chair Bible pg. 183. 1 Samuel 2:1-10

1 Samuel 2:1–10 NASB 2020

1 Then Hannah prayed and said, “My heart rejoices in the Lord; My horn is exalted in the Lord, My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation. 2 “There is no one holy like the Lord, Indeed, there is no one besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God. 3 “Do not go on boasting so very proudly, Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth; For the Lord is a God of knowledge, And with Him actions are weighed. 4 “The bows of the mighty are broken to pieces, But those who have stumbled strap on strength. 5 “Those who were full hire themselves out for bread, But those who were hungry cease to be hungry. Even the infertile woman gives birth to seven, But she who has many children languishes. 6 “The Lord puts to death and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and brings up. 7 “The Lord makes poor and rich; He humbles, He also exalts. 8 “He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the garbage heap To seat them with nobles, And He gives them a seat of honor as an inheritance; For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, And He set the world on them. 9 “He watches over the feet of His godly ones, But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness; For not by might shall a person prevail. 10 “Those who contend with the Lord will be terrified; Against them He will thunder in the heavens, The Lord will judge the ends of the earth; And He will give strength to His king, And will exalt the horn of His anointed.”

Are you ready for the message God has for us today?

Cool let’s dig in!

Hannah’s Example

Thanksgiving in answered prayer I think of Hannah.

Retell her story

In answering Hannah’s prayer God was able to use it to bless the people of Israel and bring about his plan for another judge and prophet.

When Hannah takes the young Samuel to the tabernacle to give him to service as she promised she reminds Eli who she is - 1 Samuel 1:24-28

1 Samuel 1:24–28 NASB 2020

24 Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with a three-year-old bull, one ephah of flour, and a jug of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh, although the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered the bull, and brought the boy to Eli. 26 And she said, “Pardon me, my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the Lord. 27 For this boy I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my request which I asked of Him. 28 So I have also dedicated him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.

At this point she begins her prayer.

She was so thankful that God had answered her prayer. The words of her prayer ring with thanksgiving and praise to God.

You ever have a prayer answered in such a way that all you could do was thank God.

My prayer that revealed the Holy Spirit to me.

Like me maybe God has answered your prayers in powerful and wonderful ways, did you thank Him?

Reflecting on Answered Prayers

Philippians 4:6–7 NASB 2020

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

This whole passage is a command!

It reminds us that there will be no shortage of anxiety and troubles in this world.

Paul is not prohibiting care about worldly matters.

We should care about things in life.

So what is Paul saying in the command “do not be anxious”?

The phrase is expressing to not be so overly anxious that we fall apart.

Do not be utterly consumed by our cares.

How then do we keep this command?

We can get so consumed and overwhelmed that we forget God has answered our prayers in the past!

He did it before He will do it again.

I think we need to stop, reflect, and in thanksgiving praise God for answering our prayers, as we in a moment of anxiety pray to lay what is making us anxious at His feet.

Reflect on the Ways He Answers

We also should reflect on the ways God answers our prayers.

How did God unfold His answer?

I see this in Psalm 30:1-5

Psalm 30:1–5 NASB 2020

1 I will exalt You, Lord, for You have lifted me up, And have not let my enemies rejoice over me. 2 Lord my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me. 3 Lord, You have brought up my soul from Sheol; You have kept me alive, that I would not go down to the pit. 4 Sing praise to the Lord, you His godly ones, And praise the mention of His holiness. 5 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning.

Do you see the Psalmist reflecting on how and in what way God answered the prayer and requests of the Psalmist?

Let me show by an example we share together. Where God took a Pastor’s prayer, a Church’s prayer and answered them both at the same time.

In November 2020 you as a church began praying that God would send you a new pastor.

In November of 2020 my family was praying that God would send us to a church. Develop!

Isn’t that a beautiful answer to prayer?

That is why we need to reflect on the ways in which God answers our prayers, because after reflecting we can’t help but begin to offer Him praise and thanksgiving!

Conclusion:

Maybe in this season of thanksgiving devote time in reflection on prayers you have offered to God

How did He answer it? In what ways? Was His answer what you asked for or beyond what was asked?

When we think and pounder on how God answers our prayers, what happens?

We want to give God thanksgiving, which we do not from necessity or command but from joy!

Let’s develop the habit of giving thanksgiving to God for answered prayers!