Habits of a Thankful HeartSample

Practicing Daily Prayer

In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6)

Today’s verses from Philippians are famous, and like any familiar passage, repetition can sap its power. But Paul reminds us of something incredible. Christians do not need to make elaborate sacrifices or seek the mediation of a priest to speak to God. We have direct access to him whenever we pray.

Prayer reconnects us to our redeemer and maintains our relationship with him. It helps us properly order our priorities, and it reminds us that we are in the hands of an Almighty God who will never abandon us. When we pray, we aren’t lobbing up words to the empty sky. We are having a conversation with the one who made us and who loves us as a father loves his child. And unlike an earthly father, our heavenly father always both hears what we say and knows what we truly need. This is why Paul says we can present our requests to God with thanksgiving.

Most of us know that prayer is important and many of us schedule time for prayer during our day. It is right and good to have specific times for prayer, but our goal should also be to pray constantly—to make prayer the primary way that we process our daily experience. If we do, our lives will abound with gratitude, joy, and peace.

Reflect: Today, make a conscious effort to turn your thought process into an act of prayer.