Daily Devotional – Friday, June 17, 2022
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Philippians 4:6 (NLT)
Imagine this: You have a friend who you have been assisting with basic and secondary life necessities. He is free to ask for help at any time. However, you have noticed something unusual with your friend.
He rarely thanks you for all you give him. When he knocks on your door, he goes straight to his shopping list. Once his shopping bag is full, he leaves without a word or utters a superficial ‘thank you’. The next time you see him, he is begging for more.
Thank Him for all He Has Done
Now, does this scenario describe, even in a little way, your relationship with God? What percentage of your prayers goes to making requests and demands? How much time do you allocate to thanksgiving?
Paul emphasized the importance of thanksgiving in prayer when he wrote, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” (Philippians 4:6).
Thanksgiving: The Debt You Forever Owe God
While our Heavenly Father is happy when His children request for life provisions, He is not happy when we turn Him into a divine Automated Teller Machine (ATM). Our prayers should be more than an enumeration of our challenges and needs.
Because God knows what we need before we even ask (Matthew 6:8), our prayers should have more praise, thanksgiving and confession than petitions. Instead of believing that God owes us more blessings, we must realize we owe God our gratitude.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for everything You have done and continue to do for me.
Indeed thanksgiving is a divine obligation to us.
Well-said, Doc