THANKSGIVING. 2nd Timothy 1:3 Paul had served God from his earliest years as a devout Jew. He knew God but didn't know "Jesus Christ who Thou hast sent." His ignorance and unbelief caused him to oppose and persecute Christians, not a lack of zeal for the God of Israel, whom he deeply revered. Paul's prayer was a regular part of his life.
Paul was probably referring to his Jewish ancestors such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as well as Gamaliel and others in his family who greatly influenced his beliefs and commitments. He would have been shaped by their righteous living, prayer practices tied to Judaism, and attitudes toward the religious customs he observed growing up. The significance of prayer inspired him to pray constantly for Timothy; this would have greatly encouraged the younger man and motivated him to show spiritual faithfulness to the Lord and to Paul, His servant.
Many who believe in God will never be children of God. We become "children of God through faith in Jesus Christ." Our conscience provides us with an inward awareness of right and wrong, but it is not always a discerner of right and wrong because sin can weaken, harm, and influence it. Through prayer, we stay aware of people, places, and things. Problems and specific interests remain in our consciousness when we pray. Maintaining a constant attitude of prayer keeps us informed of God's interests and makes us aware of our responsibility to Him. Thanksgiving arises from an awareness of our need for God and all His blessings.
We should be very thankful when our spiritual heritage, rooted in the unchangeable truth of God’s word, has been passed down to us by our ancestors. They were motivated by our spiritual well-being to live godly lives before us and to speak about the things of God in a way that was both appealing and convicting. They may not have realized their importance and impact on us, even before we were saved. Looking back after years of recognizing how God has guided us, the names and faces of those people come to mind, and we begin to see how much we owe them.