Word of Encouragement (4/28/2020)

This morning, we move to the next element of prayer according to A-C-T-S, which is thanksgiving.

I hope we can see the logical progression in the order of these different elements of prayer. We start with Adoration—remembering Who it is that we are addressing and praising Him for who He is. Remembering the greatness of God exposes our unworthiness, the least of which is our sinfulness before His holiness and purity. So, we confess our sins before Him. When we confess our guilt, we are not met with condemnation and punishment; rather, God meets us with His forgiveness and acceptance on account of the sacrifice Jesus has made for us.

It is what Isaiah must have gone through in Isa. 6 when he saw the glory of God in a vision. Overwhelmed by God’s divine holiness, he desperately cried out, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts” (Isa. 6:5). While he was despairing of his coming doom, he saw one of the seraphim flying to him with a burning coal in his hand. We know how this story ends but what do you think he was thinking? Probably he thought he was about to be destroyed by the fire from the altar (which happened to many others in the Old Testament). How shocked and relieved he must have been when the coal touched his lips and he heard the seraph say, “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for” (Isa. 6:7)! When the fear of death and condemnation is taken away so suddenly and so unexpectedly, how do you respond?

At that moment, Isaiah heard God say, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Without a moment’s hesitation, Isaiah responded, “Here I am! Send me.” That is the kind of response that bursts out of thankfulness—when you realize you have been so wonderfully forgiven.

In the logical progression of prayer, following our confession of sin, the first thing we should be thankful for is God’s gracious forgiveness in Jesus Christ. It is only right. Without this forgiving grace of God, we won’t be able to enjoy any other blessings of God. For a guilty conscience, in fear of condemnation, cannot truly enjoy anything. It is the foundational blessing of all. So, let us renew our gratitude for God’s wonderful forgiveness in Jesus Christ.

Have a blessed day!

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