Eucharist – Three Minute Bible

March 17, 2026March 18, 2026

1 Timothy 2:1d – A Thankful Heart

A woman raises her face and hands in prayer and her heart glows with gratitude. (Grok)

[I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession]… and thanksgiving…

Summary: Giving thanks to God might seem like an odd addition to a list of different kinds of prayer, but on closer examination, we discover that it might be the most important kind of prayer.

Paul begins this thought with a list of prayer types. In our last meditation, we examined “petitions, prayers, [and] intercession…” But Paul doesn’t stop there. He continues with one more kind of prayer — thanksgiving.

April 3, 2025April 3, 2025

Colossians 4:2b – A Praying Attitude

Paint of the Last Supper by Carl Bloch (Public Domain)

[Devote yourselves to prayer,] being watchful and thankful.

Summary: With two simple words Paul ties the topic of prayer to two of the most powerful scenes in the life of Jesus.

When we devote ourselves to prayer, as Paul says, to “pray without ceasing,”* he tells us to be “watchful and thankful.”

The Greek word for “watchful” is “grēgoreúō,” meaning the same as the English word. Paul wants us to keep awake and be vigilant.