Pastor Gisanura explained that prayer is not meant to inform God about what we lack, because He already knows our needs. Instead, we pray as an expression of our relationship with God, just as a child communicates with a loving parent.

A child does not need to tell their parent that they are hungry or need to study; they ask because they know their parent hears them and loves them. Similarly, prayer is an act of faith—not about the number of words we say, but about a heart aligned with God’s will.

Pastor Gisanura noted that there comes a point where a person’s heart is so attuned to God that He answers even before they pray, because their desires align with His truth and will.

This teaches us that prayer is not about forcing God to give us something; it is about surrendering ourselves to His will. We pray because we have Jesus, and we trust Him as a parent who provides for His children, giving them what they need even before they ask.

That is why we persist in prayer and offer thanks to God, knowing that He hears us. When we pray according to His will, He has already prepared an answer. Prayer teaches us to trust God, rely on Him as a living parent, and thank Him for His provision, which often comes even before we ask.

At the start of this new year, a month dedicated to praise and thanksgiving, Pastor Christian Gisanura delivered a powerful teaching based on 1 John 5:12–15, reminding Christians of a key reason to thank God: Jesus Christ, eternal life, and the assurance that God answers prayer.

He emphasized the verse: “Whoever has the Son has life.” Pastor Gisanura explained that gratitude begins with recognizing and accepting that having Jesus Christ is the foundation of true life.

Eternal life is not just something we receive in the future; it is a gift we begin to experience the moment we accept Jesus into our hearts. That is why, as the year begins, we should step into it not with fear, but with hope and joy, knowing that we have eternal life.

Reflecting on God’s protection over the past year, Pastor Gisanura reminded the congregation that God’s protection is not accidental—it is the fruit of being in unity with Christ.

Those who believe in Jesus, even when facing trials, illness, loss, or sorrow, can persevere because God is with them. This is why the new year should begin with gratitude—not because everything went perfectly, but because God never abandoned us.

He also reminded believers that without Jesus, we lack everything; with Jesus, we have everything. Even if we lost many things in the past year, if we have not lost Jesus, we have not truly lost. And if we found Him last year, we gained the greatest treasure of all.

This makes the first month of the year an ideal time for self-reflection: Does Jesus dwell in my life? Is He the foundation of my hope?

Pastor Gisanura returned to the topic of prayer, teaching from the Scripture that God hears us when we pray according to His will. Prayer is not about forcing God; it is about demonstrating our faith.

Sometimes God answers even before we ask, because He knows our hearts and our desires align with His will. This reflects His parental love, surpassing any human love.

At the start of this year, Christians are encouraged not to grow weary in prayer. They should pray faithfully, seeking first God’s kingdom and righteousness, rather than merely asking for worldly things. When we put God first, He provides everything else.

Pastor Gisanura concluded by emphasizing that faith without works is dead. Thanking God should not be limited to words but must be reflected in our daily lives—in love, helping others, and living according to God’s truth.

This first month of the year reminds us that we have many reasons to thank God: He gave us Jesus, He gave us eternal life, He protected us last year, and He continues to guide us in the year ahead. That is why we should start the year with praise, celebration, and wholehearted trust in Him.