HABIT #2: Pray with thanksgiving.

READ IT

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. . . . And the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:6,9)

If a central goal of the Philippians 4 Challenge is to get closer to Jesus, that the God of peace will be with you, then you need to learn how to pray to God. How often should you pray? “In every situation.” Think of prayer not as something you do before meals or before you go to bed, but as a running dialogue between you and Jesus throughout the day. And remember when you pray to pray with thanksgiving.

How does praying with thanksgiving lead to closer intimacy with Christ? Prayer in and of itself is intimacy with Jesus. It’s a one-on-one, mind-to-mind and heart-to-heart conversation between you and your Savior. It’s you being completely open and transparent with the One who made you. It’s you declaring your complete dependency on the God who wants to carry you through every situation in life.

As you develop the discipline of thanksgiving, you don’t move closer to God so much as you constantly remind yourself that God is already right there, with you.

WRITE IT

Share in the comments below and answer this question, “Besides your family and your health, what are five things you’re thankful to God for?”

PRAY IT

Jesus, I thank you for hearing my prayers. I thank you for always being with me. I thank you for transforming my heart and my mind even as I say these words.

LIVE IT

Try and carry on an ongoing dialogue with Jesus today. Pray to him every time you can remember. And be sure to always include thanksgiving!

Use #phil4challenge to spread the word about the Philippians 4 Challenge!