A 7-Day Guide To PrayerSmakprov

Remain grateful.

Learning to pray doesn’t offer us a less busy life; it offers us a less busy heart. - Paul E. Miller

We’ve heard it said that happy people are not always grateful but grateful people are almost always happy. Let’s think about that. Of all the grateful people we know, how many of them are miserable? Zero.

How do we remain grateful during the busy lives we lead? By being intentional. The most rewarding things in our lives take a great amount of intention. And remaining in a grateful state of mind each day requires intentionality. 

One of the best ways for our heart to stay in a gratitude posture is to count our blessings. That’s right. Literally start naming them. To simply stop and count our blessings will lead to an attitude overhaul. Start a list on your device, write them down on sticky notes or set an alarm on your phone that will prompt you to name five things you are thankful for. 

Here are a few suggestions that will help us be intentional about cultivating a grateful heart:

Stop and smell the roses. 
Our God is an amazing Creator. Everything we see in nature is His handiwork. How many times have we been speechless because of a sunrise? When those moments come, just say, “Thank you, God!” 

Turn that frown upside down.
When things don’t go according to the plan we had in mind, instead of focusing on what we didn’t get, let’s focus on what we do have. It’s okay to feel the sting of disappointment, but let’s don’t live there. Let’s voice our gratitude to God for what we do have.

Don’t stop believin’. 
Perhaps the greatest way to walk in gratitude as Christ followers is to remember what was done on our behalf. Jesus left his place next to His Father in Heaven to come to our rescue. Because of His perfect, selfless act we don’t have to fear eternity. If we really allow that to sink in, our hearts will be grateful. 

So let’s be thankful in all things and in all ways. For the loaf of bread in our pantry, the full tank of gas in our car, and the loved ones whom we get to enjoy. But may we never forget the One who laid down every bit of His power and authority to come to a broken earth so that we could live forever with Him. If we wake up each day with that vision in our minds, the first words that depart our lips will be simply be “Thank you.” And honestly, if all we ever do is thank God, that’s a pretty good thing.

Reflect

• In what areas of your life do you find it easy to be grateful? 
• For the next seven days, begin your day thanking God for the blessings in your life. Keep a running list.
• Write down any revelation that God speaks to you through today’s Bible reading or devotional.