Psalm 95:2a – Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving. (NKJV)

I once heard of a little boy who refused to say his evening prayers one night — not out of defiance, but because he couldn’t think of anything that he wanted. He didn’t see much point in praying when there wasn’t anything to ask for.

When his mother heard his dilemma, she suggested that he give thanks instead.

So the little boy got on his knees and thanked the Lord for everything that he could think of — from his favourite toy to the fact that he wasn’t blind like the boy down the street. His evening prayers were longer that night, because he was thankful for more than he wanted.

We often have a similar dilemma: we find it hard to pray, not because we don’t have anything to ask for but because we’re too disheartened to pray. Our prayers seem to hit a stone ceiling. Our prayers go unanswered for years. Or we simply don’t receive the peace that we used to enjoy in times of prayer.

But maybe we can’t pray because we’ve forgotten to be thankful. Like this little boy, what if we took time today and turned our prayers into words of only thanks?

Our prayers might be longer than usual, because we find ourselves thankful for more than we want.

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your love and goodness that showers upon us more than we deserve. Give us grateful hearts. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bethany Hayes Portland, Oregon, USA