Thankful Prayers.

Are thankful prayers a part of your thanksgiving? Mark Hillis reminds us that thankfulness should be part of the life of a believer.

Expressing Appreciation

When you pray, have you ever noticed how much or little you express to God your appreciation of Him or
of what He’s done? Part-2 of this series I’ve entitled “Thankful Prayers,” where I’m exploring thankfulness and especially the importance of it in the life of those who are followers of Jesus Christ – those born again by the Spirit of God.

Gratefulness is good medicine. Whenever we feel grumpy or down, it’s a sign that we need a good dose of thankfulness to cure our negative mood.
In this episode, “Thankful Prayers,” I will base my thoughts on Paul’s words to the Philippians in chapter 4

… do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses
all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6,7

A Practical Verse

This is a wonderfully practical verse. It’s hard to go wrong by following this advice. In today’s
world, where worry and anxiety are so prevalent, this truth is especially timely.

The National Institute of Mental Health reports that as of 2023, 19.1% of the population in
America suffers from an anxiety disorder. The World Economic Forum published an article on
April 5, 2024, titled A Generation Adrift: Why Young People Are Less Happy and What We Can
Do About It. The article highlights how young people today face depression and distress at
alarming rates.

According to the World Happiness Report, “Young people worldwide now report
lower happiness levels than their elders. Since 2006, levels of reported youth happiness have
declined,” affecting many parts of the world.

The Best Days of Our Lives

It used to be that older generations would look back on their teenage and young adult years as
the “best days of their lives,” but many today would not make that claim.

Young people face significant challenges: rising living costs, decreasing job security, and the negative impact of social media, which often leads to feelings of inadequacy, bullying, and depression. Increasing
international conflicts contribute to a general sense of fear and unease.

Additionally, a growing hardness in society makes building meaningful relationships difficult. Consequently, it’s challenging for this generation to maintain genuine optimism about the future.
I remember growing up in the 1980s when there was widespread concern over the threat of
nuclear war due to tensions between Russia and America. That fear weighed heavily on me
during my developmental years. While the threat of nuclear war subsided for a time, current
world tensions have revived this fear, haunting today’s youth.

A Worldview Filled With Hope

These are just a few of the pressures weighing on the younger generation. So, how do we shift
from a downcast worldview to one filled with hope? There is much uncertainty and instability on almost every level. While organizations like the World Economic Forum have good intentions—addressing issues, developing programs, and teaching positive thinking—these can often serve as temporary band-aids. But how can we sustain positivity when we are immersed in so much negativity?
The Bible teaches us not to set our hearts on the things of this world, but to look toward God
and eternity.

Hope Through Prayer

In Philippians 4, the Apostle Paul encourages us to place our trust and hope in the Lord through prayer. God is bigger than our problems. He can carry the weight of our lives, and He invites us to come to Him with dependence, trust, and as a resource for sustainability.

Believers in Christ look for hope and a glorious future beyond this world’s broken landscape. But
in times of weak faith, we can easily become entangled in worldly concerns. We need the truths
found in verses like Philippians 4:6-7 to ease the distress we feel.

Anxiety

Growing up, I don’t remember the word “anxiety” being used as commonly as it is today. Back
then, anxiety referred more to a chronic nervous condition. According to Google, the use of the
word “anxiety” has drastically increased since the year 2000. In my youth, “worry” was the term
most people used. This shift in language reflects broader changes in how mental health is
discussed and understood today.

The American Heritage Dictionary states that the word “worry” originates from an old English
word meaning “to strangle.” In the 1500s, “worry” referred to attacking roughly or killing by biting
and shaking—like a dog killing its prey. By the 1600s, it was commonly used to mean “to bother,
distress, or persecute.” Today, it means “to experience concern or anxiety; an affliction of mental
distress or agitation.”

Worry Conveys Negative Effects

We can see, through the evolution of the word, how “worry” conveys very negative effects.
Worry is destructive. It is a tool used by the Devil to make us less effective for God’s purposes. It
can damage every part of our lives:

Physically – Worry can cause headaches, digestive problems, and high blood pressure.
Mentally – Worry impairs concentration and magnifies problems, making situations
seem worse than they really are. It can disrupt sleep, leading to fatigue. Chronic stress
can develop if it persists over time.
Spiritually – Worry affects personal worship and time with the Lord. It can steal the joy
of our relationship with God and cloud our vision of the eternal blessings we have in
Christ. David expressed this in Psalm 51 when he asked God to “restore unto me the joy
of my salvation.”
Relationally – Worry can cause us to either withdraw from others or become overly
dependent on them, leading to strained relationships. It can also lead to overanalyzing
conversations, creating insecurity and distance between people.

Worry is Relentless

Worry is relentless—persistent, repetitive, and difficult to escape. It’s like a dog chewing on a
bone: we may bury our worries, but we often dig them up again to gnaw on them some more.
“…BUT IN EVERYTHING…”

Paul instructs us to transfer all the energy spent on worry and anxiety into prayer. Not just some
things, but everything. God wants us to share all our concerns with Him.

People with ADHD are often encouraged to engage in structured activities that help improve
concentration and channel their energy. Similarly, Paul advises us to direct all of our focus and
energy—everything that consumes our thoughts and worries—into the activity of praying to the
Lord. Instead of becoming entangled in our worries, we should use that same level of detail and
thought to bring our concerns before God.

Meditate on God

I’ve heard it said, “If we can worry, we can meditate on God’s Word.” The energy we spend on
worrying can be redirected toward something spiritually enriching. Worry, in its own way, is a
form of meditation—faithlessly meditating on unproductive negatives.

How much closer would our walk be with the Lord if we replaced all our ‘worry time’ with
contemplating the scriptures?

Paul also emphasizes that we should pray with thanksgiving. Gratitude is a powerful game
changer. It’s the antidote to worry because it’s hard to be negative when you are thankful.

John Scriven’s Hymn

Joseph M. Scriven’s hymn What a Friend We Have in Jesus uniquely addresses human
struggles with raw honesty and offers a remedy: taking everything to the Lord in prayer. The
hymn begins by presenting Jesus as our ‘go-to’:

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Whom can we rely on when hardships arise, and we become discouraged?
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
When the burdens become too much and there is no one to turn to, whom do we go to?
Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms, He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

Ever Changing World

In our ever-changing world, as things go from bad to worse, it’s easy to be dragged down by
discouragement. Countless things can cause us to worry, but we would do well to follow Paul’s
advice for our health and well-being. May we make it a daily habit to remedy our disheartenment by laying all our worries at His feet.

“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”
—1 Peter 5:7

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke
upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for
your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
—Matthew 11:28-30

Let’s pray for our children and young people as they face mounting challenges. May they truly
experience the “best days of their lives,” knowing Jesus as their personal Savior and living for Him as their Lord—with thanksgiving.

It is in a time such as this that the Lord will use His people and glorify His name.
(Esther 4:14)

How and when do you offer up thankful prayers? We would love to hear from you. Comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.