Do this before asking for help from God
As I was praying the other day, I had to stop. Not because I wanted to, but because a flood of need overwhelmed me. I kept throwing so many trials and troubles at the Lord’s feet that the stack was about to topple over.
The need wasn’t all my own, though. I flung requests for my family, friends, church, community, country and beyond. Every supplication immediately led to another and then another until it was just too much.
After I gave up praying that morning, I came across a verse that told me what I should’ve done instead. In fact, it’s great advice for all of us when the need is great and our words risk becoming a tower of demands.
“Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory” (Psalms 50:14-15, NLT).
Before anything else, I should’ve made a sacrifice of thankfulness. This means simply naming everything he’s already provided – all the blessings, provisions, healings and comforts I can think of.
Before I left that verse, I made a list:
- My new granddaughter
- Health
- My peaceful house
- Regular Sunday-night pizza with family and friends
- Salvation; eternal life
- All the times you protected and provided
- Compassionately carrying me through deep loss
- A wonderful marriage for 31 years
- 26 years of business ownership
- Ministry and mission work that you have blessed
- Showing me wonderful things in your Word
- Encouraging me in various ways
- Carrying all my kids to adulthood!
This list added a counterweight on the other side of the need I brought to the Lord that morning. “Look what he’s already done!” I told myself.
After I finished thanking him, I considered the “vows” part of the verse, trying to recall any promises I’d made to him that were still undone.
Do you have any needs constantly weighing on you? Maybe it’s time to try gratefulness, not just as a general concept, but in the form of a specific list. This is a great place to begin every prayer.
Grateful,
Tom Harper
Founder, BiblicalLeadership.com
LinkedIn profile | My books
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