Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! - Psalm 95:2
There’s a tall stack of mail on my kitchen counter. (Okay, there is more than just one stack.) Most of it is unopened and unread, because I can tell from their generically typed and mass produced addresses that their senders do not know or care to know me, they just want something from me. There are over a dozen political pieces, requesting that I vote for a particular person. Insurance agencies and service companies, asking for my business. Nonprofits seeking donations.
What I do open immediately are thank you notes. I know by the look of their envelopes and the handwritten addresses from loved ones that they hold encouragement inside. Their words bring a smile to my face and make me feel appreciated, like who I am and what I did mattered to them.
As I think about my mail, I cannot help but wonder if this is how my prayers look and sound to God. Do they seem impersonal and filled only with requests of what I want Him to do? Or do they bring Him joy and make Him feel appreciated for who He is and what He has already done?
What if we faithfully confess our sins and take our requests to God each day, just as He asks, but what if we also live our lives and pray our prayers with a constant spirit of thanksgiving?
What if every time we pray, we praise Him for attributes of His character and thank Him for what He has already done and promised to do?
What if each morning when our feet first hit the floor upon waking, we thank God for the opportunity to be His representative on earth for yet another day? What if we choose to bask in all the good moments and gifts He gives us, seeing and feeling and experiencing them to the full, instead of focusing only on what we want next?
What if we relished in the wonder of His creation, quick to thank Him daily for once again waking the sun and hanging the stars in place? What if everytime we see Spring buds bursting and Fall leaves color, we praise Him for being their Creator and freshly painting the world each season?
What if when we see a newborn full of promise or say goodbye to someone who has left this earth, we stop and thank God for the gift of life?
What if we make daily lists not only of Things to Do, but of What I’m Grateful For?
What if everytime we start to worry, we accept it as an invitation to turn our thoughts onto who God is, who He says we are in Him, and on what He promises? What if we count our blessings instead of sheep when we lay down each night?
What if we actually were living thank you notes to God?
Meet the Author!
Bible teacher, author, inspirational speaker and disciple-maker, Vickey Banks is passionate about helping women connect the dots between God’s Word and their everyday lives. She loves serving as Women’s Ministry Director at Council Road, celebrating her people, playing with her puppy and getting lost in a good story.