Grace and Peace Episode 56
Presbyterian Church of Easton
October 24, 2021
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:2
Heidelberg Catechism
116Q. Why do Christians need to pray?
A. Because prayer is the most important part of the thankfulness God requires of us. And also because God gives his grace and Holy Spirit only to those who pray continually and groan inwardly, asking God for these gifts and thanking God for them.
117Q. What is the kind of prayer that pleases God and that he listens to?
A. First, we must pray from the heart to no other than the one true God, revealed to us in his Word, asking for everything God has commanded us to ask for. Second, we must fully recognize our need and misery, so that we humble ourselves in God’s majestic presence. Third, we must rest on this unshakable foundation: even though we do not deserve it, God will surely listen to our prayer because of Christ our Lord. That is what God promised us in his Word.
Matthew 7:7 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
In the first question of the Heidelberg Catechism we asked what is our only comfort in life and death. The answer was given in three parts. First, we had to understand our own sin and misery. Second, we had to know how to be set free from this. And third we must be grateful to God for freeing us from sin and misery. Today we move into the third section of the catechism and examine this question of gratitude. How can we show our gratitude to God? The Catechism tells us that the primary way we thank God is with prayer.
But how often do we pray a prayer of Thanksgiving. Usually we pray for something we need. Or we pray for what someone else needs. And often we pray for forgiveness for what we have done wrong.
How are all of these prayers a form of gratitude? When we take everything to God in prayer we are showing our trust in God. We have faith that God cares about every aspect of our lives. And when we pray like this it brings great joy to God. And every time we pray it gives God an opportunity to answer prayer for which we respond with “Thank!”. Let’s pray.
Thank you Lord for the blessings of this life. Thank you for caring about me and caring for the church. Thank you Lord for being God. Amen.
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