Going In Saying Thank You | Chris Bailey III

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.
PSALM 100:4

Have you ever had a co-worker or classmate who comes in to start the class or day complaining?  Maybe the only thing worse than that is a person who comes to you not complaining, but asking.  Before hello (or right after).  Before asking how you are doing.  Before really connecting or acknowledging you, they are coming in whining or wanting!  Ugh, I know that last sentence is spicy, but let the burn clear your sinuses and breath. 

Would we be better off going into the presence of God with thanks or thoughts?  The answer is both.  In fact, He wants them both because He wants us! 

[1 PETER 5:7 KJV] 7 Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.

[PSALM 55:22 KJV] 22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

So let's rephrase.   Would we be better off going into the presence of God with thanks before our thoughts?  Now remember, come as you are means come as you are...

[MATTHEW 11:28 KJV] 28 Come unto Me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

[JOHN 6:37 KJV] 37 All that the Father giveth Me shall come to me; and Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

But I am learning that beginning my conversations with my Heavenly Father with thanks, literally shapes my thoughts throughout my conversation!  Going into prayer with thanks is not a password to divinity.  Thanksgiving is not an oil to loosen the bolts of Heaven to pour out a blessing.  That's Jesus' job!  Going to the Father in Jesus' name, per His instructions, is what authorizes us to step boldly into prayer...

[MATTHEW 6:9 KJV] 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.

[HEBREWS 4:16 KJV] 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. 

That's the what of prayer, but how we come into prayer, that's on us.  In whatever state we find ourselves, Heaven's door is always open because God's ear is always open!  But what David is counseling and what I am discovering , is that the attitude or focus I have when I come into talking with God makes a big difference in our conversation.  It does not change God, but it changes me.  When I go in saying, "Father, thank you for...", it levels the conversation.  It puts Him up, but it doesn't bring me down.  Rather, it puts Him up and brings me in.  If I am truly thankful, it draws me closer to Him.  On the other hand, going in complaining or wanting puts Him up, but it brings me down.  By starting the conversation focusing on what I want, it's like I am simply reminding myself of what I don't have or what I am not.  So rather than praying, I am actually just projecting.  And by projecting my circumstance, I actually bring God down (in my mind) to my level.  As a result, I end up thinking He hears me, but what can He do?  Or worse, I start thinking, He's listening, but He doesn't care.

At this point, if you have no idea what I'm talking about...carry on soldier.  But if you do, might I suggest thanks, before thoughts.  Our thanks muscles can get pretty flabby in the world we live in today.  So here is a exercise that has really toned my thanks and is actually making it both stronger and natural.  There is a movie series that our family watched many years ago and has become one of our favorites.  In part 2 of the 3-part series, The Ultimate Life, there is a scene where the main character hops on a train car to get to Texas and find his fortune.  A homeless hobo helps him get on as he is being chased by the railroad employees trying to stop him.  When he wakes up in the morning, the hobo is standing at the door of the car writing in the air.  He asks the hobo what he is doing and he tells him he is writing his Golden List.  His mother raised him and told him that everyday, no matter what or where we find ourselves, there are at least ten things for which we should be thankful to God.  The main character, who went on to become a...(well, I won't spoil it for you), was so impacted by that, he remembered that as one of the simple keys to living the ultimate life - giving thanks!

Now that's what I try to do.  In my journal or on my phone, right after I say hello, I say hallelujah.  Writing those ten things.  Sometimes, searching for those ten things because my mind is so preoccupied.  Whether it's places, people. purchases, prayers answered, or problems solved, when it's acknowledged as a gift from God, it changes how we see Him, and talk to Him because...

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
JAMES 1:17