A GRATEFUL HEART

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."

 Phillippians 4:6

With everything going on in the world, it is so easy to focus on the bad news, the fears, the pain, the hurt, etc. 

In times like this, songs of praises don't just leap out of our hearts. Focused on our immediate needs, we subconsciously shove thanksgiving to the side. 

What is there to be thankful for? I don't have an apparent testimony yet. 

I will thank God when He does this...that...or that.

Right now, I am only asking, a time will come for gratitude. 

That is the kind of attitude towards prayer that Phillipians 4:6 addresses. The mindset of having a separate time for making supplications, and another for thanksgiving (following the answered prayers). Even in the time of great need, in the time of lack and desperation, as we pray, we ought to present our requests with thanksgiving. I admit this is difficult to do when we are anxious and blinded by our endless needs. Perhaps, that is why Paul started the verse by instructing us not to worry about anything.

Approaching God in prayer calmly, we can then see Him clearly as the ALMIGHTY. Our problems then become smaller when tabled before Him, and we can proceed with our supplications with a heart of worship and reverence.

When Jesus and His disciples faced the difficult task of feeding the five thousand (not including children and women), the disciples panicked. They were anxious about how they could possibly feed the crowd. The anxiety and panic made them forget the man of miracles was with them. The one whom they already saw turn water into wine! And when they found the five loaves of bread and two fishes, sure it was something, but not nearly enough. How could they be thankful for that? 

Jesus however, took the five loaves and two fishes, lifted it up to God, and blessed it. You can say He gave thanks, and of course, we know the rest (Matthew 14:13-21). 

This week I have been reminded by these two passages that although I may not have every request on my prayer journal answered, I can still thank God for the five loaves of bread and two fishes in my hand. He knows I don't have the rest, so I will make my supplications known, thanking Him simply because He knows.  For that is when the peace that passes all understanding will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. 

Come on, let your praises out today. Don't wait, you too can praise before your breakthrough. 

Thank you for joining us again here at TBB! If you are a new reader, you are welcome, happy to have you visit us :) 

See you next time. Jesus loves you. 

Related Scriptures:
I Thessalonians 5:16-18, I Corinthians 16:34, Psalms 50:14, Psalms 100:4, Psalms 107:8-9, and Psalms 92:1