Closer to God with 1-Minute Prayer
Relationships require communication to flourish, and our relationship with our Heavenly Father is no different. God speaks to us through his word (i.e., the Bible) and we speak to God through prayer. Can something as simple as a 1-minute prayer make us feel closer to God? An experiment was ran to find out. The results suggested that, yes, even praying for just 1 minute can increase our feelings of closeness to God.
This document discusses praying with gratitude.
When we come to Jesus in prayer, it’s important to start by expressing our gratitude for all the blessings in our life. Take a few moments to reflect on the good things that have happened to you and the things you are glad for, such as your health, family, and friends. By starting your prayer with gratitude, you acknowledge the many blessings that Jesus has bestowed upon you.
Thank You Jesus:
A study published in Applied Developmental Science, found that grateful parents tend to raise thankful children. When children grow up watching their parents say, “Thank you,” and write thank-you notes, they learn by example. When youngsters soak in the atmosphere of thanksgiving, it leaves an impression. In thankful homes, parents talk about their daily blessings. Even in difficulty, they find things for which to be thankful. Thankfulness is a learned skill, and we learn best by seeing it modeled.
Jesus a Man of Gratitude
That’s where Jesus comes in. He is a perfect Guide in showing love, compassion, forgiveness, and wisdom, He’s our ultimate example of giving thanks in all things.When He broke the five loaves and two fish to feed five thousand people, He gave thanks (John 6:11). He did the same when feeding the four thousand with seven loaves and fish (Matthew 15:36). When His disciples grasped a truth He was teaching them, He prayed, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike” (Matthew 11:25, NLT). When He stood by the tomb of Lazarus, He prayed, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me” (John 11:
When Christ prayed at the Last Supper with the disciples, He thanked God. Luke 22:19 says, “And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them.” Matthew 26:27 adds, “Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them.”
On the evening of His resurrection, He walked with some disciples to the town of Emmaus, answering their questions and explaining how His death and resurrection had fulfilled Old Testament prophecy. When asked to have dinner, “he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them” (Luke 24:30, NIV). It was at mealtime that the disciples recognized Jesus, and then saw Him vanish! Jesus told us to ask God for our daily bread (Matthew 6:11), and the Bible says, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Imagine! The Creator of all things gave thanks for simple provisions. He felt grateful for a loaf of bread, a few small fish, or a cup of wine in His hands. He was overjoyed that His disciples were grasping the lessons He was teaching. We can imagine Him going through the day saying, “Thank You, Father,” operating with a glad and grateful heart for the simplest blessings of each day and hour.
Thank You, Jesus!
That’s why He’s our Guide to thanksgiving and that’s also why we should constantly be whispering, “Thank You, Jesus!”
One of the simplest ways of doing this is learning to thank God for our food before each meal, as Jesus did. This is more important than we realize, for in the Bible there’s a holiness connected with eating in God’s presence.
Every meal is sacred in the Lord’s presence. Whether eating by ourselves or with friends, whether at home or in public, whether a feast or a bowl of soup, follow the example of Christ, especially if you are the host of the meal. Give thanks.
Jesus also teaches us to be thankful when we see what God is doing in the lives of others. Remember how He thanked His Father when the disciples began to grasp His teaching? The apostle Paul also expressed joy and thanksgiving when his disciples made progress in grasping and living the Christian life. He told the Philippians, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy” (Philippians 1:3-4).
When we awaken each morning, we never know what the day will bring—good news or bad news, routine or disruption, laughter or tears. The uncertainty of our times renders us anxious. But there’s always something for which to thank God, and our gratitude is well-founded on the reality of resurrection. That’s why we don’t grieve as those who have no hope.
This story is told about a boy who was playing on a pier. Suddenly he fell into the water. Some distance away, a soldier saw what was happening and ran with all his might. Diving into the water, he found the child and lifted him to the surface. Once back on land, he took the child home. This man was kindhearted and was thankful to have saved the boy’s life.
When the parents came to the door and heard what had happened, they looked at the soldier and said, “But where is his hat? We want to know where his hat is!” Instead of receiving gratitude, the soldier was scolded for not finding and retrieving the boy’s hat.
The Lord has saved our lives. He saw us fall into the deadly waters, and He jumped in after us. His love lifted us and saved us. We should go through life full of endless gratitude, but sometimes we lose the spirit of thanksgiving because we can’t find our hat, so to speak.
Remember, gratitude is learned. Oh, that every child could grow up in a home that practices thanksgiving as both a habit and an attitude. We can cultivate that in our hearts and homes right now. We can emulate the Man of Gratitude. He is our Guide to all the glorious aspects of thanksgiving.
Begin at once! Thank the Lord Jesus for something fresh and new right now, and say, “Thank You, Jesus,” to the Thank You Jesus!
1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
PSALM 103:1-4 Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all His benefits — who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.
JAMES 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
1 CHRONICLES 16:34 (ESV) Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever!
PHILIPPIANS 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
PSALM 118:24 (ESV) This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
HEBREWS 13:15 hrough Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise — the fruit of lips that openly profess His name.
We may not want to admit it, but with the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives, it isn’t easy to pause and be genuinely grateful for the things we have. But from the time we wake up in the morning until we go to bed at night, there are many opportunities to show God our appreciation and gratitude.
Moreover, being grateful can help you live a more positive and fulfilling life – not to mention, spread the message of God’s love and faithfulness.
Gratitude is a powerful emotion – it can change your outlook on life and make you happier. When you’re grateful, you focus on the good things instead of the negative. Rather than always wanting more, you truly appreciate what you have and are grateful for God’s provisions.
Gratitude strengthens us spiritually and improves our mental health. Christians who are grateful tend to be happier and healthier overall, as their joy is rooted in someone as faithful as God. Just as He sustains us, we can continue to live in gratefulness and thanksgiving.
