Genesis 20:17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.
Abraham responded to God’s grace and salvation with prayer. After the Lord appeared to Abimelech in a dream and gave him a Word of life or death, he returned Sarah to Abraham and gave him gifts. Abraham responded to the Lord’s gracious deliverance with so much thanks and faith that he intercedes for Abimelech and his household. And the Lord responded by healing him and healing the barrenness of his house: he was healed and his wife and servants bore children. Children and family is one of the greatest blessings God gives. This was especially true in those days, and even today it remains a great blessing for us.
All of this, God’s protection, God’s Word, God’s deliverance, God’s answer to prayer, God’s healing, and God’s blessing, comes to us freely by the grace, mercy, love, goodness, and kindness of our Lord. He is faithful to His promises; and there is no merit or worthiness on our part. Abraham didn’t deserve His favor and blessing; we don’t deserve it. God is just love.
My proper response to the Gospel is to pray, praise, and give thanks. ”For all which it is my duty to thank and to praise, to serve and obey Him.” Prayer for self and intercession for others is the natural response to the gift of faith in His Grace. We do not pray to gain favor from God, but we pray because He has already granted favor and blessing. Prayer is response.