Last month, I finished Rachel Larkin’s 21 Prayers of Thanksgiving: Transform Your Prayer Life by Giving Thanks. In the book, Larkin offers 10 ways that thankfulness transforms our prayers.
Giving Thanks:
- Opens our eyes to the unseen
- 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
- Shifts our focus onto Jesus. One prayer of thanksgiving today can move your focus from earthly things to heavenly things.
- Reminds us 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. Remembering all the wonderful blessings in our life on a regular basis brings us into a spacious, open place of freedom.
- 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 is the place to listen and talk to God. Thanksgiving is the key that unlocks our conversations with God
- Pleases God “In everything give thanks. For this is God’s will (desire) for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18
- Brings clarity in decisions
- Keeps us hopeful “But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more.” Psalm 71:14 ESV
- Banishes Fear and Doubt…
- …and Miracles follow Thanksgiving
Click here to for my application of Larkin’s 21 Prayers of Thanksgiving.