8 Ways to Respond With Thanksgiving When Prayers Are Answered

When our prayers are answered it is natural to be excited and feel gratitude and joy. God’s working in our lives. But how can you fully express thankfulness to God in a meaningful way?

The key to responding to answered prayers is with heartfelt thanksgiving. Thanksgiving recognizes God’s goodness and blessing, strengthens faith, and inspires others. Expressing thanksgiving can take many different forms.

Here are eight ways to respond with thanksgiving when your prayers are answered.

Pray: Say Thank You

When God answers our prayers it can be easy to get caught up in gratitude and joy. But one of the simplest and most important ways that we can respond with thanksgiving to answered prayer is to return to prayer.

By responding to answered prayers with a prayer of gratitude we are acknowledging the blessings of God in our lives. We are recognizing the reality that God is the ultimate answer to our prayers.

I am reminded of the story of the ten men with leprosy that Jesus healed (Luke 17:11-19). In this event Jesus heals ten men with leprosy by telling them to show themselves to the priest. On the way they were healed. But only man returned to thank God.

Here is what we can learn from him in creating a prayer of gratitude:

• Begin by reflecting on the specific answered prayer.
• Use heartfelt words to express your appreciation, even if it is nothing more than a simple, “Thank you, God.”
• Include phrases that acknowledge God’s wisdom, love, and timing.

Here is an example of what this might look like in practice:

“Dear God, thank You for Your goodness. Thank You for hearing my prayers and blessing me in ways that I couldn’t even imagine. I trust You and am grateful for Your constant love and faithfulness in my life. “

By responding to answered prayer with prayer it keeps the focus on God as the source of all good things. It’s a humble acknowledgement of the fact that we are dependent on Him for all things and He plays an active role in our lives.

Praise: Express Joy and Gladdness

The second way that we can respond to answered prayer is through praise. I don’t know about you, but when I get a present I get pretty excited. We should respond the same way when God answers our prayers.

Praising God is an outward expression of our inward joy. We can sing worship songs, read Psalms of thanksgiving, or dance with joy in the goodness of the Lord. This reminds me of the many times throughout Scripture that people danced and praised God in gladness, joy, and worship.

If you can play an instrument, then play God a song. Music is a great way to express joy and thanksgiving as it can create an uplifting atmosphere and connection to God.

If you are struggling to think of praise songs right now, that’s okay. Here are three great examples you can use:

• “Great is Thy Faithfulness”
• “How Great Thou Art”
• “Thank You, Lord”

If you want, and it’s something I want to do but haven’t done yet, you can create a worship playlist on your favorite music streaming app. Then you can play this playlist during your daily devotions, in the car, or any other time to keep the gratitude alive.

Give Back to God: Offer Your Time, Talents, and Treasure

The third way that we can express thanksgiving when God answers our prayers is to give back to God. There are several ways that we can give back to God. We can,

• do acts of service
• donate items to others
• tithe
• go on mission trips

At first glance, you might not think that serving others is a way to give back to God but it is. Jesus tells us in Matthew 25:40, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these my brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me.”

How we treat others is a direct reflection of how we view God. Everyone bears the image of God.

In addition to tithing, you can support a mission trip or church building project. Supporting a church or other charitable non-profit organization is a great way to tangible express gratitude for God’s blessings.

But we should only give if our heart is in it. Otherwise its not thankfulness and gratitude. Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 9:7, “God loves a cheerful giver.” Our heart attitude is what God wants above all other things.

Share With Others: Testify About God’s Goodness

The fourth way that we can express gratitude and thankfulness to God for answering our prayers is through sharing with others. This is when we tell others what God has done for us.

Imagine you got a really nice present, you would want to go around telling others what you got and who gave it to you. The same should be true when God answers our prayers.

Sharing our testimony and how God has answered our prayers can inspire and uplift others. It offers encouragement to others, reminding people that God does answer prayers. And it fosters an atmosphere of love and worship toward God.

There are several ways that we can share our testimony. We don’t necessarily have to go up to strangers and tell them, though that can be good, we can also,

• Speak during a church gathering or community meeting.
• Post your testimony on social media.
• Write about your experience in a letter or blog.

It can be as simple as calling a friend and saying, “Hey, I want to tell you what God has done for me recently.”

Here’s two tips in sharing how God has answered your prayers.

First, ask God for wisdom. We don’t always know what other people are going through, and sharing what God has done for us can rub some people and friends the wrong way. It might make them feel worse, like God doesn’t want to answer their prayers. This will have the wrong effect. So, ask God for the right timing and opportunity.

Second, be specific about the challenges you faced and how your answered prayer strengthened your faith. The purpose of sharing our answered prayers with others is to love and encourage one another in the faith (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

Live it Out: Let Gratitude Shape Your Actions

The fifth way we can express thanksgiving to God in answering our prayers is to simply live it out. Walk in faith and live a life of gratitude. We are called to live a life that reflects God’s goodness, walking in faith and gratitude does just that.

So many times in the Bible after God answered a prayer the people just lived out the reality of the answered prayer. For example, Abraham and Sarah prayed for a son, then when Isaac was born they raised him to the best of their ability.

When Joshua prayed for the sun to not set during a battle and God answered his prayer, Joshua kept fighting. He was living out the answered prayer.

When the disciples prayed for boldness in sharing the gospel in Acts, God answered that prayer. Then, the disciples boldly proclaimed the gospel. They lived a life of gratitude by daily acts of faith and thanksgiving.

So, what are some daily acts of faith and thanksgiving that demonstrate a life of gratitude?

• Daily Devotions: Daily devotions give us the opportunity to express gratitude to God and remind us of our daily dependence on Him.
• Forgiving Others: Forgiving others shows that our identity is ultimately rooted in Christ. Forgiving others can remind us that God forgives us (1 John 4:19).
• Practice Patience: Honestly, this can be a hard one. But practicing patience is a great way to live a life of gratitude. It shows kindness and compassion. We walk like Jesus did when we show patience toward others.

Write it Down: Keep a Gratitude Journal

The sixth way we can express gratitude and thanksgiving to God for answered prayer is to write it down in a gratitude journal. This is a powerful way to reflect on God’s faithfulness and build a deeper sense of thankfulness over time.

I’ll be honest I don’t have a gratitude journal, though I do often reflect on God’s past goodness in my life. But if you want to start a gratitude journal here is a great way to get started,

• Choose a notebook or app dedicated to journaling
• Record the specific prayer request and how it was answered
• Write down your emotions and lessons learned from the experience.

Over time, this can serve as a personal testament to God’s faithfulness. Writing down answered prayers is a powerful reminder of God’s goodness and faithfulness.

Though I don’t have a personal gratitude journal, I recently wrote an article on all the prayers of petition in the Bible. I recorded what they asked God for and how they were answered. This was a very insightful experience and shows the value in starting a gratitude journal.

Celebrate with Community

Seventh, we can express thanksgiving to God through celebrating with the community. This could be with family, friends, or your church community. It can be as simple as sharing a meal, having a prayer circle, or simply a time of fellowship.

Sharing the joy of an answered prayer with others fosters community and collective gratitude.

With family and friends you can host a dinner and share your testimony during the meal. You can go around and ask everyone to share a something they are thankful for. Often, my family does this at Thanksgiving, but it can be done any time of the year.

Additionally, with your church family you can thank God publicly in worship. You can share moments of thanksgiving during the service. If your church or Sunday School takes prayer requests, you can ask to thank God for answered prayer.

Our focus in sharing answered prayers publicly with other should be on glorifying God and not our own personal accomplishments.

Reflect on God’s Faithfulness

Lastly, we can take time to reflect on God’s faithfulness by meditating on His promises. God has been faithful throughout our lives. It is important to remember that in times of thanksgiving.

Biblical meditation is very different than eastern meditation practices. Eastern meditation focuses on emptying your mind, but biblical meditation focuses on filling our minds with God’s Word, Promises, and Goodness.

If you are want to know more about biblical meditation check out this post. It offers a quick look at what it is and how it works. And this article looks at the key differences between prayer and mediation and how both are vital to Christian living.

Some key verses you can begin to meditate on are,

• 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
• Psalm 100:4: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!”
• Colossians 4:2: “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”
• Ephesians 5:20: Give thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
• Psalm 106:1: “Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!”
• Philippians 4:6: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving make your requests be made known to God.”
• Lamentations 3:22-23: “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

These verses remind us of God’s goodness and the immense value of thankfulness and gratitude in our relationship to God, especially when our prayers are answered.

FAQs

Key Takeaways

Responding with thanksgiving when our prayers are answered is more than just a momentary act, it is a way of life. Each of these eight responses helps us grow in faith and love and shares God’s goodness with others.

As you continue in your faith journey, remember to reflect on the blessings you’ve received and find ways to live in and share that joy.

Thankfulness not only glorifies God but also revives our soul, ensuring His faithfulness and goodness remain at the forefront of our lives.