A = Adoration – praising God for His attributes and character
C = Confession – of sin
T = Thanksgiving – for what God’s done
S = Supplication – praying for myself and others
If your kid(s) came in today and said a heartfelt “thank you” for what you currently do for them or have done for them, after you pick yourself up off the floor – wouldn’t you be grateful. However, if they came in everyday and said “thank you” for the same thing over and over, but never offered any thanks for other things – you’d be grateful yet a little conflicted over if they really meant it.
I can’t speak for our Heavenly Father’s response to someone thanking Him over and over for the same thing, but I know He loves it when we have a genuine attitude of gratitude that’s expressed through thanksgiving.
There are a number of verses that speak to attitude and giving thanks. Here are two for us to consider…
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. PSALM 100:4 NIV
Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; COLOSSIANS 4:2 NASB
Another of the most neglected areas of prayer is that of thanksgiving. So why not make it a part of your regular routine when you pray throughout the day. As you have different experiences, pause for a moment and thank God for them.
Make thanksgiving a normal part of your time alone with God; your prayer time. I’m using Prayer Cards in my time alone with God, and will probably start using a Journal along with the cards. However, with both – I write “thank you” or “PTL” by answered prayers; it’s a great reminder of the many things I have to be thankful for.
Why not choose to thank God every day for different things; don’t just go through the motions of thanksgiving, think through your thanks. As I was praying and considering this today, here are some of the things that came to mind where I was able to express thanksgiving to God:
- for another birthday for my wife, Janet
- for Scott Johnson filling in for me on Sunday & doing a great job
- for the privilege of being able to enjoy the State Basketball Tourney
- to experience joy with the families related to the Bulls Basketball team
- to hear a friend’s story of what the Bulls win at State meant to him personally
- to enjoy the weekend with special friends
- to get a text this morning from a good friend who misses me & is praying for me
- for my mom finding our two wayward dogs this morning
- for the privilege of serving God at Grace Fellowship
- for the ability to begin working out again
- for stories I’m hearing about God’s work in your lives during our 40 Day Prayer Challenge and as we’re reading through Draw The Circle.
In fact, as you finish reading this, why don’t you pause and thank God for a few things right now; even something as simple as the ability to read and understand this blog (if it was understandable – ha!).
BJ Rutledge 