The Benefits of Giving Thanks in Prayer
Dionne White
“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV
It’s that time of year again Thanksgiving rolls around in the United States of America. We gather with friends and family at the table giving thanks for God’s bounty and blessings in the season and how He has kept us through the year. We share meals, stories, laughs and maybe even tears. We shift our focus to a “thanksgiving” mindset.
This should be the mindset that we practice and keep all year long. Unfortunately, at times the cares of the world overwhelm us, we get busy and distracted forgetting this gift of giving thanks to the Lord.
In the New King James Version, the phrase ‘give thanks’ is mentioned 52 times. In addition to this, the phrase ‘thanksgiving’ is mentioned 32 times in the same translation. God was giving us a pattern to live by in the posture of our hearts and in prayer. He knows that giving thanks is beneficial to our whole being. It places our focus on the priority which is Him and He knows it will prosper us in all ways.
Let’s look first at the benefits of having an attitude of gratitude and living without complaining or disputing.
The Apostle Paul directs us in the following passage.
Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or or labored in vain.
Philippians 2:14 -16.
Blameless, harmless, children of God without fault — that is enough to make me want to operate in thanksgiving always. In addition to this He tells us why we must do this. So that we can be children that shine as lights in the world as we live by the word of life.
God always has a good purpose for why He wants us to do or not to do something. He always has our best interest in mind. His word and living a prayer life of gratitude will produce life! This is good news!
The Trade of “Giving Thanks”
When we pray with thanksgiving, we are making a holy trade building our righteous altar and devotion to the Lord. This practice in prayer allows Him to rest and remain as the King of our hearts. For it says, “But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in You; They trusted, and You delivered them.” Psalm 22:3,4 NKJV.
Our hearts become a place of exchange as we pray, give thanks, and trust Him. The result is that He is enthroned on the altars of our hearts fulfilling ancient promises, continually delivering us. Our prayers of thanksgiving are an offering and are praises due to Him.
When we make the righteous trade of thanksgiving instead of complaining with negativity we are saying, “I will not let the circumstances of life and negative thoughts rule my words. Instead, I choose to give thanks and praise to the Lord.”
We choose to always give thanks in all things because of who He is, and He is good.
He knows how beneficial giving thanks is.
I believe the greatest place we see this trade of giving thanks is found in Luke 22 where Jesus is conducting the model of what we now know as “communion”. He tells us that the bread represents his body, and the wine represents his blood. He instructs the disciples to do this in remembrance of Him. This is a practice of giving thanks and in exchange receiving the divine benefits of this holy covenant.
The Benefits of Giving Thanks in Prayer.
In addition to the spiritual practice of communion, giving thanks benefits our minds, emotions, and bodies.
Romans 12:1 tells us that we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. When we pray the scriptures by faith with a heart of gratitude, giving thanks to God, we are renewing our minds by the power of His word and the Holy Spirit.
It has been said that an attitude of gratitude greatly benefits our minds, emotions, and bodies by eliminating anxiety, depression, stress, lowering high blood pressure and even improving our sleep. It recalibrates our thinking even rewiring our brain patterns. Philippians 4:8,9 gives us instruction of how to think and when we meditate on these words and the goodness of God, we can’t help but prosper in all ways through prayer and thanksgiving.
Finally, let our aim be that the words our mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing to the Lord. Psalm 19:14
Choose to begin today salting your offerings with thanks and seasoning your words with praise to the Lord. Watch and see how it will bring life and health to your whole being.
From Dionne White Ministries we give thanks for our supporters and prayer partners of this ministry. Will and I send abundant blessings to you and your home this Thanksgiving! May you take time to reflect on Him who has been so faithful to us. We are thankful for all our friends near and far!
Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!
In Gratitude,
Dionne White