A Good Prayer To Thank God

When someone has done something for us, we should respond in gratitude for that person’s actions, whether they have given us something, helped us, or done us a favor in some way. If we show gratitude for others, surely we should also show gratitude to God, who always takes care of us as our heavenly Father. Gratitude is a matter of the heart. If our hearts have been turned into flesh by the Holy Spirit (A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26), then God’s grace, which overflows in our hearts because of the Gospel, causes us to be grateful to Him not just for Christ but for every single thing God has done for us.

Heavenly Father, may gratitude always overflow in our hearts through Your grace in us in Christ. Whether in good or bad times, may our hearts be grateful and never grumble. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

 

Why and What Do We Have To Thank God For?

We must thank God for everything because He deserves all the glory first. The truth that God is the Creator of everything makes Him worthy of glory and honor (Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelation 4:11). The Bible also says in (Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters. Psalm 29:1-3) that we are to ascribe to Him the glory that is due His name. Knowing who God is, that from Him and through Him and to Him are all things (For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. Romans 11:36), leaves no doubt as to why we must thank God for the things we have to be thankful for.

 

 

Everything we are thankful for comes from God. Even if a brother in Christ blesses us with something that we need, yes, we should thank that brother in Christ, but still, ultimately, we should thank God, for He is the source of everything. If we are encouraged by a particular brother or sister in faith, it is still God whom we should thank in the end. All things we are to be grateful for ultimately come from God, so we must thank Him. It would be unfair not to thank God and let others take credit for it. God does not share His glory with others (I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Isaiah 42:8), and we must thank Him to whom gratitude and glory are due.

Lastly, we thank God because the scripture commands us to do so. In (In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18), it is written that we are to thank God in all circumstances. (Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Ephesians 5:20) also tells us that we must thank God for everything.

 

However, sometimes the question is, what do you have to thank God for? Perhaps you haven’t received anything from someone, had any breakthroughs, or experienced an extraordinary miracle for some time. The thing is, those are not the only things we should thank God for. We don’t just thank God for the big obvious things but also for the small and even unnoticed things that we so easily take for granted or overlook.

For example, the fact that you can eat is worth thanking God for. You are still breathing and were able to wake up this morning… that is another point of gratitude. After going to where you had to be yesterday, you returned home safely without any accident. You are still persevering in the faith, despite the challenges you are going through. There are a plethora of things we are to thank God for. It is not a problem if you can’t think of things to thank God for. There always are. We have to look at them and be careful not to be too familiar with them, overlook them, and take them for granted. There are a million things that God has done for us behind the scenes, which are all good reasons to thank God. His steadfast love (O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalm 136:26) is always there for us, and His mercies are new every morning (It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23).

 

How Can We Thank God In Prayer?

You can thank God by first pondering on things for which you should be grateful to God. Aside from the obvious things, like provisions you have received or the favor you got for a job application, ponder more on those things that we are prone to overlook. You can think about how God’s faithfulness has sustained you throughout these times. You can also think about how God’s mercies have helped you and how His grace and divine providence have always been at work in your life. What has God been doing in your life? You can also ponder on those small things that you should thank God for, like being kept safe from any accidents while commuting to work and going home, how you still have food to eat and have held onto your job.

As you ponder on these things, by all means, ascribe the glory He deserves to God and thank Him for those things.

Heavenly Father, I thank You for the many things You have been doing for me, even those I am unaware of. Thank You for Your mercies, which are new every morning, and enable me to face every day with confidence, no matter how challenging they may be. Thank You for Your grace, which has sustained me as I face the demands of life. Your providence is always at work and brings me wherever You want me to be, so I also thank You for Your guidance. Thank you for always providing food for me and my family and for keeping our home safe from harm. Always open my eyes to things You have been doing for me, LORD. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Whether in good times or bad times, there is always something we should be grateful to God for because He is always at work in our lives. (And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28) says that all things work together for the good of those who love God and those whom He has called according to His purpose. That alone is reason for us to thank God, no matter the season that we find ourselves.