“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord.” Psalm 92:1
We all want good things in our life and regularly giving thanks to God is a good thing. The Hebrew word for good in Psalm 92:1 is tov. It means something pleasant and agreeable to the senses. Something that brings happiness, welfare, and favor. Something that functions properly is good and in turn this makes us glad.
Giving thanks transforms our life and surroundings but it also can transform our prayers. Praying to God is just talking and listening to Him. It is like breathing – a regular activity that we often take for granted but it is vital for staying alive. When we wrap thanksgiving around our prayers something powerful is released and God is given the space to work in our lives and prayers.
Sometimes we run out of thanksgiving ideas. Here is a free eBook that will increase the power of thanksgiving in your prayer life – “21 Prayers of Thanksgiving”.
Here are 10 powerful ways giving thanks to God can transform our prayers…
1. Giving Thanks Opens Our Eyes to the Unseen
It’s hard to see the spiritual in the midst of the natural. Our busyness with life’s details seem to take over the spiritual. Giving thanks opens our eyes to see behind the scenes of life, to see the story that God is weaving through our daily moments – the untold story.
“So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18
Here is a free eBook – The Untold Story: 7 Steps to Seeing God Turn Up in the Mess of Real Life
2. Giving Thanks Shifts Our Focus onto Jesus
“[looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith…” Hebrews 12:2a AMP
There are so many things in this life that distract us from Jesus and the growing of our faith. Giving thanks is a trigger that once activated regularly aligns our thoughts onto Jesus and all that He has accomplished for us. One prayer of thanksgiving today can move your focus from earthly things to heavenly things.
3. Thanksgiving is a Reminder of His Goodness and Love
“Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Psalm 106:1
Believing, deep down, in the truth that God is love and He is good, builds our faith and banishes fear. Can you imagine living fear free? A place of freedom, where we come boldly into God’s throne room to lay our requests and fears at His feet, knowing that He loves us deeply. Remembering all the wonderful blessings in our life on a regular basis brings us into a spacious, open place of freedom.
4. Thanksgiving Draws us into His Presence
“Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall dwell in your presence.” Psalm 140:13
As we praise and give thanks to our Father, we are drawn into His very presence. His presence gives us rest (Exodus 33:14), it fulfils promises (Genesis 28:15), it fills us with joy and the knowledge of the path of life (Psalm 16:11), fear is gone and comfort reigns (Psalm 23:4), we are hidden from the plots of men (Psalm 31:20), mountains melt like wax (Psalm 97:5) and we are surrounded by His love (1 John 4:16). His presence is the place to listen and talk to God.
5. Thanksgiving is the key that unlocks our conversations with God.
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.” Psalm 100:4
Starting our prayers thanking God is not just following a set pattern, it’s the key that unlocks the secret to effective prayer. Thanksgiving makes God look glorious – “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me” Psalm 50:23.
6. Giving Thanks Pleases God
“In everything give thanks. For this is God’s will (desire) for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18
What is the will of God? Most Believers will confess their confusion about the will of God. But 1 Thessalonians 5:18 is very clear – when we give thanks in everything then we are doing exactly what God desires. Since giving thanks to God in everything touches His heart – let’s wrap our prayers, like a present, in thanksgiving.
7. Being Thankful Brings Clarity in Decisions
A couple of years ago, we were going through a hard time with health issues, job loss, decisions on where to live – a whole host of overwhelming problems. We didn’t know how to solve them or what the next step would be. I remember feeling very close to giving up so I went for a walk and started talking to God – God, I am so confused, what is our next step? He clearly spoke to me – Child, your next step is always to give thanks, in everything.
8. Thanking God Keeps Us Hopeful
“But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more.” Psalm 71:14 ESV
There is a praise – hope cycle that takes place after acts of thanksgiving. The more we praise and thank Him the more we are filled with hope. The more hopeful we are in our God, the more our prayers are filled with thanksgiving. If we want hope and not discouragement – spend time thanking God.
9. Thanking God Banishes Fear and Doubt
As we come to the altar, knowing that God is the one in control, this infuses boldness into our hearts and prayers. Focusing on what He is has done in the past and what He can perform in the future banishes doubt and fear – the two enemies of our prayers.
10. Miracles Follow Thanksgiving
There is room for the miraculous after thanksgiving. Jesus took a young boy’s tiny lunch of fish and bread, gave thanks to God, and distributed more than enough to feed 5,000 men, with 12 baskets of leftovers. If a miracle is needed – start and continue to thank God – then watch for God to work.
Rachel Larkin is an author, speaker, chartered accountant and home-school mum. She is the author of Simple Prayer: The Guide for Ordinary People Seeking the Extraordinary. She has a passion to see believers growing in faith and prayer as well as developing their potential for Jesus. She writes at www.rachellarkin.com.
Originally published Monday, 16 October 2017.
