Pray With Gratitude

Colossians 4:2-6

It’s important that our prayer includes thankfulness.  In fact, I believe our prayer should start with thanks, recognizing what God has done for us before we ask Him for more.  My grandfather would start all of his prayers with, “Father, thank you for your goodness to us today.”  I heard something a while back in a message that said, “What if you only had today, what you thanked God for yesterday?”  That would certainly increase your gratefulness, wouldn’t it!  I think it also helps us to recognize the things we truly care about.  Are you grateful for your house, but not your kids?  Are you thankful for your job but not your breath?  Are you thankful for income but not the food on the table?  Posed this way, it seems a bit silly; however, our gratefulness is revealed in these small moments.  It is helpful to keep a gratitude journal, forcing yourself to list 10 things each day you are grateful for.  This helps to not lose track of all that God provides for us!

One time during a prayer meeting in Guatemala, one woman prayed a 5-minute prayer of gratefulness to God, and I thought she was never going to stop!  I caught myself thinking, “geez, this is going to last forever!”  She started with herself, thanking God for waking up another day: breath, strength, a home, her children, etc.  Then she moved on to the people in her life.  Then the people in the church.  Then the weather, creation, salvation.  She went on and on until I realized how much we take these things for granted!  If we take a moment to stop and think about all the things God does for us, it also changes our demeanor.

Paul adds to his writing, “Since you’re praying, please also pray for me.”  Now, I think it is important not to skip over what Paul asks for prayer about, since it can also apply to us!  You might not be an official evangelist, preacher, or bible teacher, but wouldn’t it glorify God if we all prayed for God to grant us clarity in communicating the mystery of Christ?  This is actually what he is getting at in verses 5-6!

When Paul says to conduct yourself with wisdom, he is talking about the highest intellectual gift, of comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God; sometimes, e.g. Ac. 6:3, 1 Cor. 6:5, James 1:5, (prudentia) practical wisdom, that endowment of heart and mind which is needed for the right conduct of life.  In other words: communicating clearly the mysteries of God!

This is a prayer that honors and glorifies God.  One full of thankfulness and seeking wisdom so that we may share Him with others.  Before we ask for anything personal, let us thank Him for what He has given us and then ask Him to give us what we need…for Him!  Everything else will flow out of that attitude.