Praying with Thankfulness

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!

For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
-Psalm 100:4-5

The calendar says it is time to give thanks. And that’s a good thing to do! Much of the country slows down for a day or two, reminded and encouraged to be grateful. The pressures of the world often close in on us and we need to pause. But our perspective is different than the world’s. We know the Giver of all good things.

Look around! The family and friends you have (your church is certainly a family), a roof over your head, food on the table, clothes in the closet, transportation, heat when you turn up the thermostat, a measure of health, medical care just down the road, and dozens more.

Of course, most of all, we are eternally thankful for salvation. It’s the greatest gift of all! I recently had the privilege of watching a man come to faith in Christ. I was reminded of that moment for me in 1974. My life has never been the same, and I will always be in awe of God’s love reaching out to me.

My challenge to you this week is to spend 10 minutes walking around your home. Look at and touch the things you have. Thank Him for those things. Don’t ask for anything. Just thank Him. It will help you develop a grateful heart, not just for Thanksgiving but every day.

I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.
-Psalm 86:12

Chris Tornquist

Chris is a graduate of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, IL (M.Div.) and has served as a pastor in churches in the Midwest. Chris and his wife Marty have been married for nearly 40 years. Chris currently teaches the Fundamentals of the Faith class and serves in the Prayer Ministry here at Faith Bible Church.

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