Learning to Pray: The GRACE Prayer SystemSample

Gratitude

One of the most important things that we can do to start a time of prayer is to express our gratitude to God for the things that He has done in our lives. In fact, in looking at the process for entering God’s presence before we ask anything, gratitude is the key first step.

Psalm 100:4 says, "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name." Expressing gratitude shifts our focus from ourselves to God's goodness and provision. This shift helps us position our hearts to properly be in the place where we can rest in His presence because we recognize that everything that we have is a gift from God. From the breath in our lungs to the food that we eat to the people that we love in our lives - every single thing is a gift from God. Yet oftentimes we fail to properly express gratitude to God for the gifts He’s given to us.

By spending some time simply thanking God for the things He’s done for, we position our hearts to come into His presence. This is the picture of entering into His gates with thanksgiving.

I like to think of it like I’m going to visit a friend’s house who has a nice fence with a gate that I need to enter before I get to the door. Thanksgiving works like this: as I’m grateful to God and express my gratitude, I approach the gate, take the handle, turn it, open it, and enter into the property where God resides. Every expression of gratitude is one of these steps, and even though I enter the gate, I’m not yet in His presence. I’m approaching His house, and the excitement of entering His presence should fill us with joy. To know how to fully enter into His presence, we have to go to the second step, which is to express our reverence, which we will look at tomorrow.

Daily Challenge:
Spend 5 to 10 continuous minutes thanking God for everything that you have in your life. Don't take a pause, but let the Holy Spirit guide you by asking Him to bring to mind the things that God has provided for you. As He does, naturally and wholeheartedly express your gratitude to God for everything that He's done for you.