Bringing our requests to God through prayer is just one aspect of our communication with Him. Another part of prayer—which is frequently overlooked—is thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6).
The Father wants His children’s lives to be characterized by gratefulness. His Word tells us that an appreciative attitude should be evident in our worship (Psalm 95:2-7; Colossians 3:16), giving (2 Corinthians 9:12), relationships (Phil. 1:1-3), and the way we approach spiritual battles (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). In other words, thankfulness should permeate everything we do (Romans 14:6).
In the Scriptures, the Lord actually mandates our gratitude because He knows how being grateful affects the heart. Expressing thanks to God helps us . . .
- Be aware of His presence.