Today's Word of Encouragement from Wayne

“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving”

Colossians 4:2.

Entering God’s presence “with an attitude of thanksgiving” will always keep you alert. Alert to what? Alert to God, to His presence, His power, His provision, and above all, to His Person. Without thanksgiving, without being alert to what is really happening, one’s prayer life can easily devolve into a self-centered expression of worry and doubt. Genuine thanksgiving is always and only about our gracious God. While many people’s style may be to say, “here I am to pray and praise you” (unknowingly encouraging more self-centeredness), the more alert style is to say, “LORD here YOU are and I praise YOU and make my requests known to YOU with joy in YOUR presence.” It’s really not about us, as if we were still separate beings from God. It is truly all about our God, and our relationship with our God, being one with Him, as His beloved children, new creations in Jesus Christ, a kingdom of priests to our God, entering His presence with joy, because He is alive, and inside, and reigning in our hearts. When you pray and worship, I encourage you to lose the “here I am to worship” mentality and instead step up to alertness with a distinct and profound “Here YOU are to worship” understanding and faith. Your prayer life will gain greater devotion, consistency, joy, and power when you allow yourself the blessing of “keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.” Thanksgiving is our new response, because we have been “born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3), and we now have a life in the Spirit. Yes, cultivate the attitude of gratitude. “Enter His gates with thanksgiving” (Psalm 100:4) and realize that praise and thanksgiving always keeps you alert, and lifted up, and aware of your God’s presence, love, and His power to answer prayer. Hallelujah!