Peace From A Prayerful Life & Thankful Heart

Life wasn’t meant to be easy and it’s especially not easy to stop worrying about the often-scary, everyday parts of our lives, but God tells us what to do when we are like that. He says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). Pray about everything … and thank him for all he has done and watch for the outcome. Grateful prayer brings peace.

Parents understand the power of grateful prayers. Most parents wouldn’t appreciate their children always making requests without saying “thank you” for what they’ve already received. God sees it the same way. He wants us to ask him for what we need and want. More than 20 times in the New Testament, we’re told to “ask” him. But he wants us to ask with gratefulness.

The Bible urges us to be specific in our requests and in our praises. Instead of a simple “thank you for everything,” he wants us to tell him what we’re grateful for. When I say to my wife, “I’m so grateful for you,” she tells me to be specific. She likes to hear what I appreciate about her and what I’m grateful for about her. God does, too. So when you pray, tell God what you’re thankful for. Prayer is one of the most important ways we tell God “thank you.”

When we can thank God in all circumstances it’s amazing how much closer He seems to be and how our perspective can change from one of fretting and worrying to one of acceptance and calm assurance. Our thoughts become more balanced and rational. Grateful prayer does bring peace.

Thanking God in advance is a big step of faith. When we have the faith to thank God ahead of time, miracles happen. The more thankful we are, the more God works in our lives. The Bible says that God inhabits the praise of his people. He uses our thanksgiving as an instrument of power in our lives. Grateful prayer creates peace!

Rev. David Mitchelmore (MACA Level 4)
B. Theol; Master in Counselling; Graduate Diploma in Christian Counselling; Advanced Diploma of Counselling and Family Therapy; Cert IV TAE.

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