Purposeful Gratitude Reminds Us of God’s Goodness
This might seem confusing or an empty suggestion - but stick with me for a minute and this will all make sense.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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.” [Emphasis mine.]
The New Living Translation says it this way: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” [Emphasis mine.]
These verses are telling us to bring our worries, concerns, and requests to God. And that, by doing so, we will experience God’s peace.
This is all true. However, I want to zero in on two key phrases in these verses that are often overlooked: “with thanksgiving” and “thank Him for all He has done.”
There’s a reason why expressing gratitude is included here - and it’s not for the reasons you may think.
For example, God doesn’t need us to build up His ego or self-esteem. He’s the one-and-only Almighty God, Creator of Heaven and Earth. So, telling us to be thankful here isn’t about that.
In addition, God isn’t about empty religious rules or rites. So, this isn’t about pleasing Him with some checklist item.
God includes giving thanks to Him here for our sake.
Sure, it’s good to have a humble and grateful heart.
But something amazing happens when we approach God with gratitude along with our worries and requests: we remind ourselves of all the ways He’s shown up for us recently.
Now you might be thinking, “But I can’t see anything to be grateful for right now! I don’t see God’s goodness! That’s why I started listening to this episode!”
But the truth is, friend, God’s goodness is always there. We always have something to be grateful for - even in the most challenging seasons.
Maybe life isn’t going the way you’d like it to. Maybe hopes and dreams appear lost. Maybe the world seems dark in ways that have caught your attention.
But God’s goodness still exists. And sometimes, we need to purposefully pause and focus in order to see that.
For example, are you in good health? Do you have a job that’s covering your living expenses? Were you able to help someone in need out of the excess you had on hand? Are you making amazing progress towards your goals even though it’s going slower than you’d like? Did you have a random interaction recently that spoke love and hope into your life?
What about being grateful that you’re His Daughter and He loves you more than you can imagine?
These are just a few examples and maybe they sound trivial. But these are all blessings. These are all things to be grateful for, right?
And no matter what’s happening in your life right now, if you stop and think about it, you have a list of things to be grateful for too.
But again, sometimes we have to purposefully pause and focus.
Now, what does this do? Why does God (through the Apostle Paul) include this for our sake?
If we look closely again at Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) again, we’ll see that there’s actually a formula:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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.”
Not being anxious is tied to the action of bringing our requests to Him AND being thankful. Why?
Because when we purposefully direct our hearts, minds, and emotions into a place of thankfulness, it causes us to focus on the reason for that gratitude - aka our all-powerful God who is above all things.
This, in turn, re-aligns us with the source of our hope and peace. Because true hope and peace come from God - not our circumstances or the world.
After having these verses explained to me in this way several years ago, I made a point of adding a “gratitude section” at the beginning of my prayer time with God. I made it routine.
And I found that it made a huge difference. So much so that I’ve been doing it ever since. Whether things are going well or I’m struggling with something, thanking God on a regular basis (for things big and small) consistently reminds me of His power, love, and presence.
Even as I go down a list of “thank yous,” I begin to feel a positive shift in my emotional and mental state. And more things come to mind to thank Him for.
By the time I start asking for what I need, I’ve been reminded that God is with me. That He’s still providing for me, blessing me, and watching over me. Even if I’m confused about certain things or wondering why others are taking so long.
Exercise: Add Gratitude to Your Prayer Time with God
Moving forward, make it a point to spend a few minutes thanking God at the beginning of your prayer time.
If you’re still learning how to pray and figuring that out, please don’t see this as a source of undue pressure. Just begin incorporating it the best you can and let things progress moving forward. (For example, you can just sit down and make a list of things you’re grateful for.)
Also, there aren’t any rules. In other words, this isn’t about only thanking God for big things. Did something happen that spoke to your heart? Did something seemingly small happen that had a huge positive impact on your day? Whatever you’re thankful for, include it.
The more you do this, the more you’ll shift not only your prayer time but your ability to see how He’s at work in your life. Your focus will be more on His goodness than what’s going on in your life or in the world around you.
Start today. It’s a practice that will change your life!