Good Morning All,
“Thank you.” This is probably the first “manner” that we
teach our children. Just as soon as they
can speak, we begin to hammer it home.
“What do you tell Grandma?”
“Thank you.” If we don’t hear it;
we ask again and then we begin with no more presents, don’t you love her,
that’s not how we raised you, etc. If we
hear it then we say, “good boy.” Maybe
that is part of our problem, we have made thanks an act of the law, a requirement,
rather than a heartfelt expression.
I can remember times when I gave a gift and
heard no “thank you” but the look in their eyes and the expression on their
faces said it all. I got my thank you. Sometimes the best “thank you” is to see
someone actually use the gift that you gave them. Saying thank you can take many forms.
Our verse is an “oldie but a goodie” many of
you may even have it memorized. So, we
want to look a little look at how this applies to our prayer life. Most people, even unbelievers, go to God in
times of crisis. When everything is in
chaos, people cry out to God; but why? I
suspect many people view God as a genie. You only get some many wishes and you
want to make good use of them. Some see
God as a “last resort,” whether they see God as distant and looming or whether
they really doubt God’s effectiveness and concern. We go to God in trouble but do we go to God
when things are good?
Giving thanks to God should be an integral
part of our prayer/devotional life. This
should be part of the conversation rhythm that we have with God. We read and study his Word to hear God speak
to us. We listen to the absolution where
we hear God’s forgiveness for us, we hear him call us back home. We, in turn, speak to God with our concerns
and fears for sure. God tells us to call
upon him in the day of trouble; this is part of God comforting us and giving us
peace. Yet we should also give thanks
for the gifts we have and will get in this life and the next. Thanks, should be a natural part of our
prayer.
This can help live out our prayer life,
especially our thank you. Take your
prayer life and live it. We can do this
by how we live, by how we use the gifts we are given. God gives you life and wants to have a loving
relationship with you. He wants to have
a long and loving conversation with you.
He wants to talk to you and have you listen to him. He wants you to talk
to him as he listens to you as well.
Dearest Father, we struggle with thank you as we are so
overwhelmed by your gifts. Even as our
lives are chaotic and worrisome, your wonderful grace is always present. Give us the faith to see this and to give you
thanks and live our lives for you. In
Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.
God’s Peace,
Pastor Bret
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