It won't surprise you to be told that an important part of prayer is thanksgiving. But some of the things that the Bible says about thanksgiving, or the attitude of gratitude are a little bit surprising.
This lesson contains thirteen little surprises about thanksgiving. These won't be world-shattering revelations that toss you into the fifth dimension. They'll be just little surprises, but no less important for that.
The first surprise (1Th 5:18) is that giving thanks is not just something sweet to do. It is a precept to obey. "Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." We usually think of laws and precepts as being commandments like "do not commit adultery" or "be baptized every one of you". But as you can see, it is also God's will and commandment that we be happy and thankful.
Giving up giving thanks can lead to idolatry.
Now comes surprise number two (Rom 1:21-25). "Though they knew God, they did not honour him as God, or give thanks... and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image". Notice how not giving thanks to God led to worshipping "the creature rather than the Creator". God appeared to Solomon not once but twice, yet Solomon did not maintain his appreciation. He lost his 'gratitude attitude', and so turned to idols (1Kg 11:9-10). Does your heart overflow every day with thanks and praise? If not, your heart is preparing itself for idolatry.
A prayer without thanksgiving is defective.
Our next surprise (1Tm 2:1 Php 4:6). is that prayer is not petition alone, but rather "Petitions and thanksgivings". Paul urges us, "in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God". Effective prayer is not just asking for things. It's also giving thanks for things. Prayer without thanksgiving is rather like junk to God. It's like a chair with one leg missing, or a clock with no hour hand, or a phone in which buttons 8and 9don't work.
Thanksgiving is a law of God to obey.