Since most of my prayers are intercessory, I have become more aware of the importance of including prayers of thanksgiving in addition to praise, supplication and confession. Leviticus 7:11-15 gives instruction for the "fellowship offering of thanksgiving" (v13). I'm amazed that the offering includes 4 types of bread (at least I count 4); as I reflected on this I pictured the worshipper making the bread and reflecting on all that he/she had to be thankful for; it was a gift of time & resources. I was reminded of the leper who, after being healed by Jesus, returned to give thanks. And I was challenged to offer a prayer of thanksgiving before offering a prayer of intercession. For example, before I prayed for a friend facing surgery, I gave thanks for the doctors, for the available health care and for the person's faithfulness. I did this for 2 days last week and I found that instead of the prayers of thanksgiving "taking away from" the prayers of intercession, the day was full of prayer. I'm interested in hearing how others balance prayers of intercession with other forms of prayer.
Vicki
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Vicki Just a reflection question about Thanksgiving--Do you see Thanksgiving and Praise closely related that one could exchange for the other? Praise can certainly affect our circumstances. See PS 149. God also wants us to have a thankful heart--enter into His gates with Thanksgiving-PS 100 vs 4.
Perhaps you or someone else might have some thoughts on this.
Good question - I've heard that we praise God for his attributes and give thanks for his deeds, but I'm not sure - I still find myself spending so much time in intercession that I neglect praise & thanksgiving - I would like to hear how others find balance.
I never would have thought of the bread--I count 4 too: Here is the scripture--my count and identification of the bread is in Italics
Leviticus 7:
11. And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he shall offer unto the Lord.
12. If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried. ((1) Unleavened cakes mingled with oil, (2) unleavened wafers anointed with oil, (3) unleavened cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried..
13. Besides the cakes, he shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offerings. (4) Leavened bread
14. And of it he shall offer one out of the whole oblation for an heave offering unto the Lord, and it shall be the priest's that sprinkleth the blood of the peace offerings.
15. And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day that it is offered; he shall not leave any of it until the morning.
I am also reminded when thinking of thanksgiving of Philippians 4:
6. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Thanksgiving does make a difference. We need to reminde ourselves to be thankful. I appreciate your thoughts.
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Perhaps you or someone else might have some thoughts on this.
I never would have thought of the bread--I count 4 too: Here is the scripture--my count and identification of the bread is in Italics
Leviticus 7:
11. And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he shall offer unto the Lord.
12. If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried. ((1) Unleavened cakes mingled with oil, (2) unleavened wafers anointed with oil, (3) unleavened cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried..
13. Besides the cakes, he shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offerings. (4) Leavened bread
14. And of it he shall offer one out of the whole oblation for an heave offering unto the Lord, and it shall be the priest's that sprinkleth the blood of the peace offerings.
15. And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day that it is offered; he shall not leave any of it until the morning.
I am also reminded when thinking of thanksgiving of Philippians 4:
6. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Thanksgiving does make a difference. We need to reminde ourselves to be thankful. I appreciate your thoughts.
Thanksgiving to God and Blessings