Thank-Therapy

My dad started to teach my brothers and I to pray with thanksgiving some time ago. He reasoned with us that God knew our needs and instead of asking all the time we could spend time seeking Him through thanksgiving and praise. He modeled the prayer of thanks to us and taught us how to bow our hearts before God and simply say thank you for all the wonderful things he has done.

 

I tried to lead a group of seminary students in this form of prayer and was absolutely astounded at just how difficult they found it. We’re so ingrained to come before Him and make our demands like petulant children that we barely have the skill set to come before Him and acknowledge His goodness alone.

 

I was reminded of this as I read a challenge this week: to begin each day by thanking God for at least twenty five things. This is “thank-therapy”. And the promise is that it will not only change your level of contentment, but also your character. Try it out. It’s quite liberating.