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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Be Particular in your Thanks to God, Marvel at His Good Nature and Kind Providence

Thanksgiving 4.1 | ESV

We must be particular in our thanksgivings to God:

For the discoveries that he has made to us in his word of the goodness of his nature.

We give thanks to the God of gods, to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:2-3(ESV)

Your goodness is your glory, Exodus 33:19(ESV) and it is for that which all your works give thanks to you and all your saints bless you. Psalm 145:10(ESV)

You are gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, Psalm 145:8(ESV) and have told us that you do not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men; but, though you cause grief, you will have compassion according to the abundance of your steadfast love. Lamentations 3:32-33(ESV)

You take pleasure in those who fear you, in those who hope in your steadfast love. Psalm 147:11(ESV)

For the many instances of his goodness.

The goodness of his providence relating to our bodies and the life that now is; and this,

1st, With reference to all the creatures and the world of mankind in general.

You have stretched out the heavens like a tent, Psalm 104:2(ESV) and in them you have set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Psalm 19:4-5(ESV) And you make your sun rise on the evil and on the good, and send rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:45(ESV)

When we look at the heavens, the work of your fingers, the sun, the moon, and the stars which you have set in place, Lord, what is man that you care for him? Psalm 8:3-4(ESV) For truly the light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun: Ecclesiastes 11:7(ESV) All glory be to the Father of light, James 1:17(ESV) who commands the morning and causes the dawn to know its place. Job 38:12(ESV)

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Introduction and Exhortation to Stir Yourself Up to Praise God

Thanksgiving 4.0 | ESV

Of the Fourth Part of Prayer, which is Thanksgivings for the Mercies we have Received from God and the Many Favors of His we are Interested in and Have and Hope for Benefit by:

Our errand at the throne of grace is not only to seek the favor of God, but to ascribe to him the glory due his name, Psalm 29:2(ESV)  and that, not only by an awful adoration of his infinite perfections, but by a grateful acknowledgment of his goodness to us, which cannot indeed add anything to his glory, but he is pleased to accept of it and to reckon himself glorified by it, if it comes from a heart that is humbly sensible of its own unworthiness to receive any favor from God, that values the gifts and loves the Giver of them.

We must stir up ourselves to praise God with the consideration both of the reason and of the encouragement we have to praise him.

I give thanks to you, O God; I give thanks to you, for your name is near. I recount your wondrous deeds. Psalm 75:1(ESV)

Let my soul bless the LORD, and let all that is within me bless his holy name; yes, let my soul bless the LORD and forget not all his benefits. Psalm 103:1-2(ESV)

I will praise the Lord, for it is good, it is pleasant, Psalm 92:1(ESV) and praise befits the upright; Psalm 33:1(ESV) yes, it is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning and your faithfulness by night. Psalm 92:1-2(ESV)

I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever; Psalm 145:1-2(ESV) I will pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and sing aloud of your righteousness. Psalm 145:7(ESV)

I will sing to the LORD a new song and his praise in the assembly of the godly. Let Israel be glad in his Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King. Psalm 149:1-2(ESV) Let the godly exult in glory, and let the high praises of God be in their hearts and in their throats. Psalm 149:5-6(ESV)

I will bless the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being; Psalm 146:2(ESV) and when I have no being on earth, I hope to have a being in heaven, to be doing it better.

I am here through Jesus Christ to offer up a sacrifice of praise to you, which I desire to do continually, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge your name. Hebrews 13:15(ESV) And you have said that he who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies you, Psalm 50:23(ESV) and that this will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs. Psalm 69:31(ESV)

I will recount the steadfast love of the LORD, the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD has granted me, and the great goodness to the house of Israel that he has granted them according to his compassion, according to the abundance of his steadfast love. Isaiah 63:7(ESV)

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Plead the Promises of God for the Enforcing of your Petitions

Petition 3.41 | ESV

We must plead the promises of God for the enforcing of all our petitions, put these promises in suit, and refer ourselves to them.

Lord, you have given me many precious and very great promises, 2 Peter 1:4(ESV) which are all Yes and Amen in Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:20(ESV) Now be it to your servant according to the word that you have spoken. 2 Samuel 7:25(ESV)

Give me to draw water with joy from these wells of salvation, Isaiah 12:3(ESV) to nurse and be satisfied from Jerusalem’s consoling breast; Isaiah 66:11(ESV) and now, O LORD God, let the word that you have spoken concerning your servant be established forever, and do as you have spoken. 1 Chronicles 17:23(ESV)

Deal with me according to the tenor of the everlasting covenant, which is well-ordered in all things and secure, and which is all my help and all my desire. 2 Samuel 23:5(ESV)

Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your way with those who love your name; Psalm 119:132(ESV) do more for me than I am able to ask or think, Ephesians 3:20(ESV) and supply all my needs according to your riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19(ESV)

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Pray for Daily Supplies of Comfort and Support

Petition 3.40 | ESV

We must pray to be supplied with the comforts and supports we daily stand in need of.

O that the favor of the LORD my God may be upon me; prosper the work of my hands upon me; yes, establish the work of my hands. Psalm 90:17(ESV) Save me, I pray, O LORD! O Lord, I pray, give me success! Psalm 118:25(ESV)

May my sons in their youth be as plants full grown, and my daughters like corner pillars cut for the structure of a palace. May my granaries be full, providing all kinds of produce; and may there be no breaking in or going out, no cry of distress in the streets of your people. Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall! Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD! Psalm 144:12-15(ESV)

Let me be blessed in the city and blessed in the field; Deuteronomy 28:3(ESV) let my basket and my kneading bowl be blessed; let me be blessed when I come in and when I go out. Deuteronomy 28:5-6(ESV)

Let your good providence so order all events concerning me that they may be made to work for good for me, as you have promised they shall for all who love you and are called according to your purpose. Romans 8:28(ESV)

Give me to trust in the LORD and do good, and then I shall dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness; Psalm 37:3(ESV) and be pleased to bring forth my righteousness as the light, and my justice as the noonday. Psalm 37:6(ESV)

Let me be hidden from the lash of the tongue, and not fear destruction when it comes; Job 5:21(ESV) let me be in league with the stones of the field, and let the beasts of the field be at peace with me; let me know that my tent is at peace, and let me inspect my fold and miss nothing. Job 5:23-24(ESV)

And if God will be with me and will keep me in the way that I go during my pilgrimage in this world, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I may come to my heavenly Father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God. Genesis 28:20-21(ESV)