Different Ways to PrayExemplo

The Prayer of Thanksgiving

In our busy lives, it’s easy to overlook the simple yet profound act of giving thanks.

We are blessed with so much abundance that we tend to take much of what we have for granted. We can get so caught up in pursuing society’s definition of a “fulfilling life” or what we’re told will bring “happiness” that we neglect to stop and appreciate all that God has already given us.

Psalm 100:4-5 directs us to enter into God’s presence with a heart full of gratitude and a readiness to give Him praise. We need to develop the discipline of gratitude. Thankfulness is a crucial aspect of our relationship with God. When we approach the Lord with thanksgiving, we acknowledge His goodness and recognize that all we have and all we are comes from Him.

Thankfulness in prayer does two very powerful and important things.

First, it shifts our focus away from all the worries and troubles that tend to weigh our hearts down and redirects our hearts toward the beauty and goodness of God. This transforms our outlook and changes our disposition from one of complaining to one of rejoicing.

As men, we tend to die the death of a hundred comparisons. Much of our self-esteem gets caught up in what we have and what we can provide for others. The truth is, men are ultimately not the providers; God alone is our provider, and we are stewards who get to enjoy and administer what He’s given us as we work hard with Him.

By practicing thanksgiving to God, we ease the pressure that can so often silence our prayers. It’s hard to fixate on the negative when we’re busy giving God praise, and it’s hard to get stuck in a defeated attitude when we’re busy thanking God.

Secondly, thankfulness stirs our affection toward God, deepening our love for Him. It causes us to pause and reflect on His faithfulness to us, which can often serve as a necessary corrective against our inborn entitlement. Thankfulness reminds us that He is God, not us and that He alone is worthy of praise, not us. It teaches us to pursue the Giver, not just the gifts, to seek God’s face and not just His hands.

May we make prayers of thanksgiving a regular part of our daily time with God.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the many blessings You have given me. Shift my focus from worries to Your beauty and goodness, transforming my complaints into rejoicing. Help me develop a heart of gratitude, recognizing Your goodness and provision in my life. Amen.

Reflection: Today, what are you most thankful to the Lord for in your life?