The Brave Heart
With Jenny Baxter
PRAYER: AN ATTITUDE OF THANKFULNESS
By Jenny Baxter©
My first recollections of prayer are our family dinner times. Dad would wait patiently until we were all seated (Mom was always last), and then he would pronounce, “For what we are about to receive may the Lord make us truly grateful”. As soon as it was said, we were into our food (and Mom was up again). Looking back, it was not the special moment of thanks it might have been.
When my little sister and I reached the ages of about four and five, our mother taught us to sing this grace:
Thank you for the world so sweet,
Thank you for the food we eat,
Thank you for the birds that sing,
Thank you God for everything.
Every now and then as a special treat at dinner time, we two would happily sing it together. I liked the idea of birds singing too. However, even though I was truly thankful, I was not overly connected to the ‘God content' of this song. Even though we went to Church and Sunday School weekly, God was a distant and non-participatory observer of my life.
Over the next decade, several events shaped my life: my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer; my two older sisters married and left home; I became close friends with a girl whose family was much more actively committed to Christian things than ours; and I made a decision to take Jesus' offer of new life seriously. This last incident altered my perception of God's proximity. Here was someone who really knew me.
Then, a distressing event—my mother died the week I turned sixteen. Although outwardly I ‘held it together', inwardly my world came crashing down. So many questions—not many answers. Why did God let her die when faithful people were praying? Who was going to organize our family gatherings now? What about my sister and me, left with a grieving and distant father? And a devastating (and very self-centered) question, “Why me, God? Why did you let this happen to me?”
So began my prayer journey.
Losing Hope
Have you noticed how humans seek God when hard times arrive? When a marriage fails; when financial ruin looms; when a child suicides; when life hits rock bottom. When all hope is lost, our instinctive reaction is to consult God. We may shake our fist (remember Lieutenant Dan during the wild storm in the Forest Gump movie?) Or fall on our knees, calling for mercy (several scenes during the movie Bruce Almighty come to mind here). When we lose hope, we turn to God.
Hope. We all long for it. If we have no hope, all is lost. Every prayer, every request, every moment of praise, every small ‘thank you!', all stem back to this constant longing within. To communicate with God is to connect with hope. The truth of the matter is that when hope is lost, we suffer.
Think back over your life. Everyone has had moments of pain. Have you handed these moments over to God? Have you asked him to offer you his hope? He longs to hear from you—for you to be still and hear his heart whisper to yours, “I love you my beautiful one. I will walk beside you. I will give you hope.” Make some time today, even just a few minutes, to consciously connect with God. It may take persistence to find space, but if you do, you will come away refreshed.
A Prayer of Thanks and Gratitude
Dear God
Thank you that you know me and saw me, even before I was born. Even though some terrible things have happened to me, I know you have been with me and seen my suffering. I call out to you now. I long for your hope in my life. Forgive me for blaming you. Allow me to see my life from your perspective. Teach me how to pray, and to live the rich life you have ahead for me.
I rely on your love and mercy.
Your friend______________ (say your name here)
Some Ideas to Enhance Your Prayer Life
1. Make time for yourself today to enjoy being ‘you'. Take off your shoes and play some uplifting music (any style of worship music you enjoy). Respond to Jesus as you worship him. You could curl up in your favorite chair and dream about being nestled in his arms in an attitude of thankfulness and rest. Or perhaps enjoy this free moment to move and dance, however creatively. Maybe you could try drawing or painting an expression of worship as you listen. This is for your eyes only, so don't allow yourself to feel inhibited.
2. Begin a prayer journal. Find an attractive notebook to record prayers and answers. On the left page, record the date, and a list of specific requests. The page on the right is for writing dates and answers to your prayers, such as ‘Yes', ‘No', ‘Wait', or something beyond your expectations—remember to thank him for these answers. This will be a very encouraging notebook to review.
3. Sit quietly for a few minutes with a pen and paper. Instead of bringing to God a list of requests, ask him to still your mind and remove your own ideas, or any thoughts not from him. Then speak out the following question:
W hat do you want to tell me about myself today Lord?
Write down thoughts that come to mind, no matter what they are. See Psalm 45:10, 11. Be thankful!
4. Choose a psalm and in your journal, re-write it by personalizing with your name and situations. This can be a life-changing activity.
5. Investigate some prayer websites. Look up ‘prayer' on your favorite search engine. Here are some worthwhile sites to look at:
6. Consistency. Even with a small tribe of children running around, you can maintain a consistent prayer life. It is not easy, but it is worthwhile persisting. There is no equipment required and there are no limitations of time or place. So be creative! Pray when doing the dishes; when stopped at traffic lights; when alone in the bathroom; when up with baby; when up waiting for a teenager; when sleep is elusive. God will listen any time. Your life will be slowly be transformed into the ‘you' he made you to be.
http://jenny-happyday.blogspot.com
Jenny Baxter is the editor of Christian Woman magazine (Australia/NZ)
Jenny and her husband Stephen have five children, age range 11 to 22 years. They have trained in VMTC Prayer Ministry and are currently voluntary staff workers with Fusion Australia in Hobart , Tasmania .
Time to Shine , a book co-authored by Jenny, offers many ideas similar to those appearing in this article.