Gratitude should be our fundamental attitude in all aspects of life, but especially in prayer. Always be grateful.
The last blogpost ended by referring to the Israelites crossing the Red Sea and seeing God's powerful miracle in a seemingly hopeless situation. There's nothing impossible for God, so trust Him! They thought they're lost and about to die, yet God came through with a powerful miracle and a permanent solution regarding the forces threatening their lives. Therefore, 'When you're at your lowest, look to the Highest.' God is faithful. He won't fail you. God made a way for them, He will make a way for you. The same waters that protected God's people and brought them to salvation, were the same waters that brought judgment on God's enemies. The ones threatening their lives would be no more (Exodus 14:13). The God who fought for His people was true to His word (v 14). He always is.
Complaint or Gratitude?
Unlike the ancient Israelites who were complaining after crying out to God for help, Paul teaches us to pray 'with thanksgiving' (Philippians 4:6). We should be grateful in prayer, not complaining. While remembering the believers at Corinth during prayer, Paul thanked God for them and His grace upon them (1 Corinthians 1:4ff). After encouraging the Thessalonians believers to 'pray without ceasing,' he points to the importance of being grateful in all of life's circumstances: 'in everything give thanks' (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18). Our devotion in prayer should be governed by an attitude of thanksgiving (Colossians 4:2). Gratitude in prayer is crucial. We cannot have any sense of resentfulness or hold a grudge in prayer, but should rather be governed by a sense of humble gratitude, even if things are not all sorted out yet. The right attitude in prayer is important. Always be grateful in prayer.
The ancient psalmist instructed the believers to 'give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His lovingkindness is everlasting' (Psalm 107:1). As God's people 'call upon His name,' they should 'give thanks' (Psalm 105:1). They should, 'Enter His gates with thanksgiving,' 'give thanks to Him' and 'bless His name' (Psalm 100:4). Gratitude in prayer runs like a red thread throughout the Bible. Gratitude is also an expression of humility, and God gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). We cannot be bitter and proud in prayer, but rather hope in God in childlike manner (Psalm 131). The humility reflected in servants and maids towards their masters and mistresses, should reflect our humility towards God as 'our eyes look to the Lord our God' (see Psalm 123). Humility is the key to respond to 'the contempt of the proud' (v 4). At times it seems that the evildoers triumph, yet we are encouraged to 'trust in the Lord and do good,' to wait on Him in the assurance that the humble will inherit the earth and that God sustains the righteous (see Psalm 37).
Humility and Gratitude
Perhaps the most powerful illustration regarding the right attitude in prayer is expressed in the parable Jesus spoke about 'some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt' (Luke 18:9). It's certainly honourable to seek to live a righteous life and we should all strive more towards it, yet seeing others with contempt is a sign of pride and arrogance that is despicable. One should not boast about one's own achievements and then run others down because they are less worthy (vv 11-12). Ironically, the one bragging about his religious activities was not justified by God because of his attitude of contempt towards others. Note that fasting and tithing are good and important, but require the right attitude to have any heavenly approval. It was the contempt of others that was wrong in his attitude. The sinner, on the other hand, was justified by God due to his humility and honesty (v 13). God gives grace to the humble, but resists the proud. Those who humble themselves will be exalted, yet those who exalt themselves will be brought low (v 14). Concealing one's transgressions won't lead to any good result, yet confessing our shortcomings and forsaking them leads to forgiveness and finding God's compassion (Proverbs 28:13).
Jesus made clear what one's proper attitude in prayer and other religious practices should be (Matthew 6:1-18). Boasting is wrong; parading is wrong; doing the right things for the wrong reasons is wrong. When we judge others for their little mistake, yet can't see the big mistake in ourselves, we really are out of tune with Heaven (Matthew 7:1-5). We might start giving what is precious to those who don't see its value and get hurt or destroyed in the process (v 6), even if we think we're well-meaning. Protect yourself. Protect yourself from those who seek your destruction while you're giving them what is precious to you. But protect yourself from pride, arrogance and contempt. It leads to destruction. Seek humility, honesty and gratitude instead. Those who first remove what is wrong in themselves will then possess the humility to help others (Matthew 7:5). You can't help others with an arrogant attitude; people respond to humility. We are to correct others with gentleness and humility for their benefit, not to prove ourselves as 'more righteous' (2 Timothy 2:25-26).
Humbling ourselves is the right posture in prayer. At our lowest, God will lift us up. When we are at our lowest we shall look to the Highest. He is the God who is not only highly exalted, but also dwells 'with the contrite and lowly of spirit,' as He seeks to 'revive the spirit of the lowly and ... the heart of the contrite' (Isaiah 57:15). God promises to be with us when we go through the waters, rivers or fire, and brings us through it unharmed (Isaiah 43:2). As they say, 'when God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.' Remember that.
God comforts those who mourn (Matthew 5:4) and frees the oppressed (Luke 4:18). God associates with the humble who turn to him with a grateful heart. Paul encourages us to associate with the humble (Romans 12:16). There's beauty in humility and it is expressed in a grateful heart in prayer. Thank God for the good things in your life. Make your requests known to Him with an attitude of thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6). With such an attitude of gratitude, the peace of God can flood your heart and mind and guard you from worries and anxieties (v 7). As you contemplate on what is true, honourable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent and worthy of praise (v 8), the God of peace will be with you and guard you (v 9). As you focus on Him and trust Him, He will keep you in 'perfect peace' (Isaiah 26:3). You can truly 'cast your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you' (1 Peter 5:7). Due so with humility in prayer (v 6) and trust God to protect you from those who seek you harm (vv 8-11).
Pray with gratitude. Pray in humility. Pray in trust.
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