Pray with Me? #3 (Thanksgiving)

Kyle Bartholic   -   January 21, 2022

Every November, we create a “thankfulness tree” with our kids. Danielle prints out red, orange, and yellow leaves that each day at dinner, we take a leaf and write something that we are thankful for on it, and then tape it to a wall in our dining room. This is by no means an original activity on our part! But, we do it to help our kids build their muscles of thankfulness. And, if I am honest, the reality is that I am inherently selfish and not grateful or thankful. So, my thankfulness muscles need to be continually worked out as well. That is what makes the ACTS prayer formula so helpful. It routinely positions me to intentionally consider how God has taken care of me. If prayers of adoration focus on praising God for who he is, prayers of thankfulness focus on praising God for what he has done for me. In both prayers, God is the object of praise. And, his favor, kindness, and provision are always unmerited. I didn’t earn or win it. He simply and graciously gave it because he loves me. What a humbling and beautiful reality!

 

C.S. Lewis once said about prayer, “For most of us the prayer in Gethsemane is the only model. Removing mountains can wait.”[1] We often think that prayer is about accomplishing great things. However, in the garden, Jesus’ prayer is focused on aligning his heart with the good will of his Father. What an important focus that gives us for prayer. And prayers of thanksgiving help to focus our eyes on how God has already cared for us, which then builds confidence to trust him in the big and uncertain things ahead. It isn’t just about saying “thank you” it is also about prepping our hearts to trust for what is ahead.

 

Thanksgiving –  to praise God for what he has already done

Prayers of thanksgiving are prayers that focus on seeing the good provision of God in our lives and giving him rightful praise. As we do that, it builds confidence in our hearts to trust him for the uncertain and big things ahead. How do we pray prayers of thanksgiving?

 

  1. Don’t underestimate or undervalue the little things.
    1. Sometimes when we only look for God’s faithfulness in the big things, we miss a mountain’s worth of evidence of God’s faithfulness in the little things.
  1. Write it down. (A gratitude journal.)
    1. Too often, I am too quick to miss the provision of God and simply attribute it to my ability. When I take time to write down how God provided for me, I see his fingerprints on my life more clearly. This can be once a week or more regular through tough seasons.
  2. Send up a quick thank you.
    1. Send up short “thank you” prayers throughout your day. When you experience something that deserves a praise of thankfulness, just do it. I have found that as I send up these short prayers, I start to see God’s loving presence and provision more and more in my day. Especially in the little things.

 

A prayer of praise of thanksgiving: Psalm 30 is a beautiful example of thanksgiving prayer.

I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up.

and have not let my foes rejoice over me.

O LORD my God, I cried to you for help,

and you have healed me. . . .

Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints,

and give thanks to his holy name.

For his anger is but for a moment,

and his favor is for a lifetime.

Weeping may tarry for the night,

but joy comes with the morning. (vv. 1–2, 4–5)

 

[1] C.S. Lewis – Letters to Malcolm, p. 60.