Prayer with an Attitude
We all know prayer is essential in our lives as Christians. Through it, we are drawn into a deeper walk with our Creator because He designed us, in our frailness, to depend upon Him for life and its fullness. But what complements prayer and opens the doors of our hearts to the hope and richness of God’s kingdom? What is referenced over 110 times throughout scripture? What does our heavenly Father call us to do, knowing our design, so we can find abundance in life? (John 10:10b) The answer is simple, yet we often miss it because we don’t feel like it when we need it most. The answer is prayer with a thankful heart.
An article in the NY Times stated that “Cultivating an ‘attitude of gratitude’ has been linked to better health, sounder sleep, less anxiety and less depression, higher long-term satisfaction with life and kinder behavior toward others, including romantic partners.” Although these studies come from a secular psychology perspective, their research is sound in that gratefulness changes the way we see and interact with life and with others. Biblical principles work no matter who is using them! How much more would we benefit then, when we direct our gratefulness to God who wants a personal, living relationship with us?
We are continually encouraged throughout God’s Word to pray with thankfulness. One of the benefits of doing so is God’s peace in our hearts and lives. “The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:6,7) And in 1 Timothy 2:1, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”
As a child, my parents spent many years trying to teach my self-centered heart to say things like “Please” and “Thank you”. I learned to be polite, but often missed being grateful for the sacrifices others made for me. I just sort of bounced through life like a bumble bee, learning new lessons by flying right into problems and later trying to pick up the broken pieces. (This is the hard way to gain counseling experience.) Though I missed seeing the blessings at the time, I can look back now and be grateful for so much: my family and friends who saw more in me than I could see in myself, the beauty of God’s creation, provision in lean times, and so much more.
Years later as a young man, I was devastated at the rejection and loss of a close friendship. I had no place to go but to my knees, seeking God for help. The concepts in Col. 4:2 kept coming to mind. “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” I sure didn’t feel like being thankful! As I prayed, though, thanking the Lord for what He was doing in my circumstances and in my heart, He gave me peace. I found that the sun would rise again in the morning. It took me a few days to get to where I could move on. Even though I still didn’t fully understand, I trusted that in time, God would somehow use this trial for good.
One of my favorite verses is 1Thess 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” “Rejoice always” doesn’t mean that we’re happy all the time, but that we find our way back to joy, trusting God is in control. Praying without ceasing doesn’t mean we need to join a monastery either, but to be in communication with the Lord throughout our day. The power of giving thanks in all circumstances, especially the ones we do not understand, is beyond our comprehension. But it is still God’s will for us to give Him thanks. There is never a circumstance in our lives where God has said it was too difficult or too horrible, that we don’t need to give thanks for what He could and would do through the struggles. He still wants us to be grateful. There have been many times when I sought God for direction, for His will for my life. This verse keeps coming back to mind, “…give thanks in all circumstances.” (1 Thess. 5:18) He wants that grateful attitude in our hearts so we may be in right relationship with Him and hear His quiet voice when He directs.
So what is it God wants us to be thankful for? I want to be clear that I’m not talking about being grateful for sin; Jesus never was. But rather to be grateful to God for the good He has promised in our lives through these struggles. Somehow, someway, He will use it for good. When we come to God in prayer with a grateful heart our trust grows, especially in times of need, and we tie into a deeper relationship with God. He will use our struggles to make us stronger, if we allow Him. Our Lord is more than able to take what was meant for evil against us and turn it for good (Gen 50:20).
The longer I live, the clearer it becomes that His major goal in our lives is a joyful relationship with Him. His will for us to “give thanks in all circumstances” not only gives us a positive view of our situations, but can change our hearts. When you pray, put God on the throne over your heart with thankfulness.