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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Thank God for Gracious Answers to your Prayers

Thanksgiving 4.39 | ESV

For gracious answers to our prayers.

I have reason to love you, O LORD, because you have heard the voice of my pleas for mercy, Psalm 130:2(ESV) and because you have inclined your ear to me; I will therefore call upon you as long as I live. Psalm 116:1-2(ESV)

Out of the depths I have called to you, O LORD, Psalm 130:1(ESV) and you have heard my vows and given me the heritage of those who fear your name. Psalm 61:5(ESV)

Indeed, before I have called, you have answered; and while I have been yet speaking, you have heard, Isaiah 65:24(ESV) and have said, “Here I am,” Isaiah 58:9(ESV) and have been near to me whenever I call upon you. Deuteronomy 4:7(ESV)

Lord, you have heard the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart, and incline your ear to hear. Psalm 10:17(ESV)

Blessed be God, who has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me; Psalm 66:20(ESV) for I have prayed and gone away, and my face has been no longer sad. 1 Samuel 1:18(ESV)

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Thank God for Sweet Communion with Him in Holy Ordinances

Thanksgiving 4.38 | ESV

For sweet communion with God in holy ordinances, and the communications of his favor.

I have feasted on the abundance of your house, and you have given me drink from the river of your delights: for with you is the fountain of life; in your light do I see light. Psalm 36:8-9(ESV)

You have brought me to your holy mountain, and made me joyful in your house of prayer; Isaiah 56:7(ESV) and I have found for me it is good to be near God. Psalm 73:28(ESV)

I have reason to say that a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere, and that it is better to be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness; for the LORD God is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor, and no good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly: O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you! Psalm 84:10-12(ESV)

I have sat down under your shadow with delight, and your fruit has been sweet to my taste; you have brought me to the banqueting house, and your banner over me has been love. Song of Solomon 2:3-4(ESV)

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Thank God for the Powerful Influences of Divine Grace

Thanksgiving 4.37 | ESV

For the powerful influences of divine grace to sanctify and preserve us, to prevent our falling into sin, and to strengthen us in doing our duty.

You have not quenched the smoldering wick, nor broken the bruised reed, Matthew 12:20(ESV) nor despised the day of small things; Zechariah 4:10(ESV) but having had the help of God, I continue up to this time. Acts 26:22(ESV)

On the day I called, you answered me; and my strength of soul you increased. Psalm 138:3(ESV)

I have been continually with you, you have held my right hand, Psalm 73:23(ESV) when my feet had almost stumbled and my steps had nearly slipped. Psalm 73:2(ESV)

I have reason never to forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life; and if your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction many a time; Psalm 119:92-93(ESV) for your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning. Psalm 119:54(ESV)

If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence: But when I thought, “My foot slips,” your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up; and when the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. Psalm 94:17-19(ESV)

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Thank God for the Remission of Sins and Peace of Conscience

Thanksgiving 4.36 | ESV

We must give thanks for the remission of our sins and the peace of our consciences.

I bless you for the redemption I have through Christ’s blood, the forgiveness of my trespasses, according to the riches of your grace, which you have lavished upon me. Ephesians 1:7-8(ESV)

That you have forgiven all my iniquities and healed all my diseases; Psalm 103:3(ESV) and in love you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction, for you have cast all my sins behind your back. Isaiah 38:17(ESV)

When you brought me into the wilderness, there you spoke tenderly to me, and gave me my vineyard from there, and made the Valley of Achor a door of hope. Hosea 2:14-15(ESV)

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Thank God for Every Spirit-Wrought Inward Change

Thanksgiving 4.35 | ESV

We must bless God if there is a saving change wrought in us by his blessed Spirit.

And has God by his grace transferred me out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of his dear Son? Colossians 1:13(ESV) Has he called me into the fellowship of Jesus Christ, 1 Corinthians 1:9(ESV) and brought me near by his blood, who by nature was far off? Ephesians 2:13(ESV) Not to myself, O LORD, not to myself, but to your name I give glory. Psalm 115:1(ESV)

I give thanks to God always for those to whom the gospel has come not only in word, but in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. 1 Thessalonians 1:5(ESV)

You have loved me with an everlasting love; therefore you have continued your faithfulness to me. Jeremiah 31:3(ESV) You have led me with cords of kindness, with the bands of love. Hosea 11:4(ESV)

When the strong man, fully armed, guarded his palace in my heart, and his goods were safe, it was One stronger than he who attacked him and took away his armor in which he trusted and divided the spoil. Luke 11:21-22(ESV)

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Thank God for the Hope of Eternal Life and for the Work of the Spirit within you

Thanksgiving 4.34 | ESV

For the prospect and hope of eternal life, when time shall be no more.

I thank you for the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him; James 1:12(ESV) the inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for me. 1 Peter 1:4(ESV)

That having here no lasting city, Hebrews 13:14(ESV) I am encouraged to seek the better country, that is, the heavenly one; Hebrews 11:16(ESV) the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. Hebrews 11:10(ESV)

That I am in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, has promised; Titus 1:2(ESV) and that all true believers, through grace, Acts 18:27(ESV) have eternal life abiding in them. 1 John 3:15(ESV)

2dly, We must give God thanks for the spiritual mercies bestowed upon us in particular, especially if we are called with an effectual call and have a good work of grace begun in us.

We must bless God for the striving of his Spirit with us, and the admonitions and checks of our own consciences.

I bless you that you have not given me up to a debased mind; Romans 1:28(ESV) that my conscience is not seared; 1 Timothy 4:2(ESV) that you have not said concerning me, “He is joined to idols, leave him alone”; Hosea 4:17(ESV) but that your Spirit is still contending with me. Genesis 6:3(ESV)

I thank you for the work of the law written on my heart, my own conscience also bearing witness, and my own conflicting thoughts accusing or excusing me. Romans 2:15(ESV)

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Thank God for the Communion of Saints

Thanksgiving 4.33 | ESV

For the communion of saints, that spiritual communion which we have in faith and hope and holy love, and in prayers and praises with all good Christians.

I bless you that if your people walk in the light, they have fellowship with one another, 1 John 1:7(ESV) even with all those who in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and mine. 1 Corinthians 1:2(ESV)

That your people, who are many, are one bread and one body; 1 Corinthians 10:17(ESV) and that though there are varieties of gifts and service and activities, yet there is the same Spirit, the same Lord, and the same God, who empowers them all in everyone. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6(ESV)

I thank you that all the children of God who are scattered abroad, John 11:52(ESV) are united in him who is the head of the body, the church; Colossians 1:18(ESV) so they are all my brothers and partners in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus. Revelation 1:9(ESV)

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Thank God for the Martyrs and Confessors who have Gone Before you

Thanksgiving 4.32 | ESV

For the martyrs and confessors, the lights of the church, and the good examples of those who have gone before us to heaven.

I bless you for all those who have been enabled to commend themselves to God by great endurance, in afflictions and calamities; 2 Corinthians 6:4(ESV) who when they have been brought before kings and governors for Christ’s sake, it has turned to them for an opportunity to bear witness, Luke 21:12-13(ESV) and you have given them a mouth and wisdom, which none of their adversaries were able to withstand or contradict. Luke 21:15(ESV)

That those who for Christ’s sake were killed all the day long and regarded as sheep to be slaughtered, were yet in all these things more than conquerors through him who loved them. Romans 8:36-37(ESV)

That they conquered the accuser of the brothers by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Revelation 12:10-11(ESV)

I bless you for the cloud of witnesses with which I am surrounded, Hebrews 12:1(ESV) for the tracks of the flock, Song of Solomon 1:8(ESV) for the people of old who received their commendation, Hebrews 11:2(ESV) and are now, through faith and patience, inheriting the promises. Hebrews 6:12(ESV) Lord, give me to follow them, as they followed Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1(ESV)

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Thank God for the Preservation of Christianity in the World to this Day

Thanksgiving 4.31 | ESV

For the preservation of Christianity in the world unto this day.

I bless you that though the enemies of Israel have afflicted them from their youth up, have greatly afflicted them, yet they have not prevailed against them; though the plowers have plowed on their back, yet the LORD is righteous, he has cut the cords of the wicked. Psalm 129:1-4(ESV)

That Jesus Christ has built his church upon a rock, which the gates of hell cannot prevail against; Matthew 16:18(ESV) but his offspring will be established forever and his throne as the days of the heavens. Psalm 89:29(ESV)

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Thank God for Planting His Church in the World

Thanksgiving 4.30 | ESV

For the planting of the Christian religion in the world and the setting up of the gospel-church, in spite of all the opposition of the powers of darkness.

I thank you that the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the command of the eternal God, and the gospel which has been made known to all nations for the obedience of faith, Romans 16:25-26(ESV) has divine power to destroy strongholds: 2 Corinthians 10:4(ESV) That the Lord worked with it and confirmed the message by accompanying signs, Mark 16:20(ESV) so that Satan fell like lightning from heaven. Luke 10:18(ESV)

That though the gospel was preached in the midst of much conflict, 1 Thessalonians 2:2(ESV) yet it continued to increase and prevail mightily, Acts 19:20(ESV) and multitudes turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven. 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10(ESV)

Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of God and the authority of his Christ have come: Revelation 12:10(ESV) And the exalted Redeemer rode forth with his bow and with his crown, conquering and to conquer, Revelation 6:2(ESV) and nations were brought forth in one moment. Isaiah 66:8(ESV)