I went to bed last night, grateful and excited that today would be Sunday. Excited to be able to go to church not only to worship God through the beautiful songs and the challenging sermons, but also to see my church family. Grateful that I was preparing my body and heart by resting on Saturday to be able to leave my house. Every prayer should be mixed with gratitude.
Grateful is defined as:
Having a due sense of benefits; kindly disposed towards one from whom a favor has been received; willing to acknowledge and repay benefits; as a grateful heart. (Webster’s 1828)
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4:6
What else am I grateful for? Really, what am I MOST grateful for? I am grateful for the benefits I have received when I met Jesus at the foot of the cross. I want to express my eternal gratitude on a daily basis.
So many times we rush through our prayer life forgetting to be thankful instead just asking for things. Will God supply all our needs? Absolutely. Has He given us so much already? Most definitely.
We can never work our way into heaven or God’s good graces on our own merits. It’s only by Jesus’ saving blood we are spared an eternity in hell. This is such a sobering thought when we realize the fires we have escaped via the sacrifice Jesus gave.
Grateful today for the benefit of peace, eternal security and a home in heaven. Gratitude brings joy and joy in turn can be shown to those around us. I have learned to express my gratitude and joy not only in song but in writing. I want to daily and with each prayer be grateful to my God.
