Hands of Thanksgiving and Praise

Author: Faith Woodall

Acts 2:42 CSB—They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.

I’ve always been taught, “My right hand is thanksgiving, and my left hand is praise,” when we put them together, that is how we pray. You know what? It’s how we start every Worship experience with the kids. It has shaped who I am, and I pray that it continues to shape the kids we teach about God.

Reflecting on the apostles’ transformed prayer life after receiving the Holy Spirit, I’m struck by the dedication they exhibited. All through Acts we see the Spirit move through the Church and see the Church grow, but that didn’t happen without commitment. That dedication is something that leaves me awe-struck. I see that same dedication in my dad, Pastor D. He is the one, after all, who taught me to pray. Here is something even more incredible: Pastor D’s grandparents helped him learn, too. So, I had to get my dad’s story, and here is what he had to say.

“As a little boy, I loved visiting my Grandparents’ house on the family farm. I will never forget the smell of Grandma’s homemade cinnamon rolls. But I have always remembered the one old and well-known photo hanging above their piano; even today, I still see it around in other homes or at antique shops - the photo of the old man with his hands folded together. Head bowed with bread in front of him. While my grandparents never actually said anything about the photo, the memory of that photo has taught me a beautiful lesson on prayer. Years later, even after my grandparents had passed, while reading Psalm 100:4, I flashed back to this photo.

‘Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise.’

I remembered the man’s two hands, one representing thanksgiving and one representing praise, folded together as he prayed. I knew this photo and verse was the perfect example of prayer, and it quickly became an “object lesson” that would help teach kids how to pray when they don’t know what to say. It is the perfect reminder that when we pray to God, we should bring him our thanksgiving and praise before our requests. I want kids and adults alike to be impacted and remember this simple saying as a tool to help them in their prayer life just like I have been affected and will always remember that photo that hung in my Grandparent’s house.”

Seeing how even the simplest images can impact generations is amazing, creating a ripple effect that I now pass on to my kiddos. Honestly, the Holy Spirit can reveal things to us all the time if we are willing to listen and follow.

Let’s dedicate ourselves to prayer, embracing the legacy passed down through the ages, and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us in every aspect of our lives.

Reflection

When was the last time you started your prayer time with praise and thanksgiving?