Some wonder just how one can stay in constant contact with the Father. Exactly how does that happen? One reliable way is to be continually offering prayers of gratitude.
You will find it hard to feel sorry for yourself when you are thanking God for all the blessings He bestows. You will find it hard to worry when you are praying with gratitude.
Colossians 3:2 instructs, "Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving." Praying with the attitude of thankfulness keeps you alert to the power and working of God.
This morning, during my quiet time, I listed many of the things for which I am grateful. From the big (friends who love me, a safe home, good health) to the small (a working computer, plants and flowers in my garden, pets that I adore). During the day today, my intention is to keep thanking God for all the ways He blesses me.
When you're in a conversation with a friend, you become closer as you share the important things about your life. When you're in a conversation with God, you become closer as you thank Him for all the blessings (people, things and events) that He has given you.
I love I Thessalonians 5:16-18, "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
It is impossible to be both angry and thankful. You can't feel 'blue' when you are offering prayers of gratitude. Try it. You'll see.
Showing posts with label Thankfulness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thankfulness. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Thank Jesus BEFORE You Have an Answer
Jesus loves to hear our prayers. He wants to know what's on our minds, what's troubling us, what we need. Jesus longs to answer our prayers.
Today the devotion from "Jesus Calling" makes the suggestion to thank God for the answer to our prayer even before we see it. Instead of constantly repeating our request ... and instead of focusing on what we want but don't have ... let's begin offering prayers of thanksgiving before God gives us an answer. Matthew 21:22 assures us, "And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."
Having a thankful heart is the "believing" part. We are so certain that we will receive an answer from Jesus that we can thank Him ahead of time.
As I John 5:15 makes plain, "And we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests we have asked from Him." We can thank Him because we already have what we asked for. We can acknowledge and be grateful that Jesus is setting events in motion that will bring about an answer to our prayer. We can be grateful that He is working behind the scenes to give us our heart's desire. Colossians 4:2 tells us, "Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving."
While we wait for God to act, we can start asking if we need to change our perspective, if we should take some action, if we can be more receptive, so that we will be ready to recognize God's answer when it comes.
The answer may not be what we first expected. God may say "Wait;" He may even say "No;" or He may do something totally amazing, beyond what we imagined. But we will see the answer more clearly and accept it more willingly, when we have already been thanking Him for answering our prayer.
Today the devotion from "Jesus Calling" makes the suggestion to thank God for the answer to our prayer even before we see it. Instead of constantly repeating our request ... and instead of focusing on what we want but don't have ... let's begin offering prayers of thanksgiving before God gives us an answer. Matthew 21:22 assures us, "And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."
Having a thankful heart is the "believing" part. We are so certain that we will receive an answer from Jesus that we can thank Him ahead of time.
As I John 5:15 makes plain, "And we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests we have asked from Him." We can thank Him because we already have what we asked for. We can acknowledge and be grateful that Jesus is setting events in motion that will bring about an answer to our prayer. We can be grateful that He is working behind the scenes to give us our heart's desire. Colossians 4:2 tells us, "Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving."
While we wait for God to act, we can start asking if we need to change our perspective, if we should take some action, if we can be more receptive, so that we will be ready to recognize God's answer when it comes.
The answer may not be what we first expected. God may say "Wait;" He may even say "No;" or He may do something totally amazing, beyond what we imagined. But we will see the answer more clearly and accept it more willingly, when we have already been thanking Him for answering our prayer.
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