Biblical Leadership: How to Pray, What to Pray ForSample

ACTS: T is for “Thanksgiving” – Step 3 of your Prayer

When you reflect on how great God is, and all that God has given you, it’s hard not to be thankful.

Just think of your life. God has given you family, leadership talent and opportunities for education, work, relationships, plus so much more. How could you not be thankful?

But the enemy wants you think that you are not blessed. He wants you to compare with others, and focus on what you have missed. He wants you to work harder, reach higher, and show the world how great you are. But this is not at all what God wants, is it? So flee from that!

Instead, dwell on the goodness of God and all the many blessings He has given you. Focus on how God has brought you to where you are today, what good gifts and talents he has given you, and how He will care for you to the end of your days. Keep an eternal perspective; do not allow yourself to be dragged down to the fleeting pleasures of this world. And be sure not to compare your position, responsibilities, recognition or compensation to that of others. 

Keeping perspective is the very best way to maintain an attitude of gratitude throughout the day, no matter what your challenges. And, as you do that, those you lead will notice, and so will God.

So, as you start your time of thankfulness before God, list that which you are thankful for. Reflect on all the blessings you have been given. Then, when you run out of things to list, ask God to come into your heart and show you even more. 

As you verbally express your thankfulness to God in your prayers, your perspective of being His child, of being cared for by Him, of living eternally for Him will deepen. And, at the same time, the things of this world, even the very things that may have driven you to a more time of intense prayer will settle out and diminish. It’s just as the Bible says: 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  – Philippians 4:6-7

Remember our friend Daniel, rising in leadership to be second-in-command over the entire Babylonian empire? His rise from capture to top executive is a true inspiration in leadership. Now, check the thankfulness in his prayer habit:

Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.  – Daniel 6:10b

Thanksgiving – an important component to each and every one of your prayers. Bringing thanks to God is another way of praising Him, and sets the stage for the final step – presenting our requests for help.

Reflection / Application

1. Do you compare your leadership position, responsibilities or recognition to that of others? Should you even do that? How does comparison make you feel?
2. God has placed you in a specific leadership role for His glory. Adopting this perspective, can you list 5 things that you are most thankful for related to your leadership?
3. Some say that getting out of bed with an “attitude of gratitude” makes the entire day go better. How does gratitude factor into your communication with God? Can that thankfulness flow out from your relationship with God for others to see?