Phil. 4:6b, "Tell God your needs, and don't forget to thank Him for His answers."
When God answers our prayers, we should not forget to praise and thank Him. We have an enemy who will take advantage of an ungrateful heart. Those of you who have had teenaged drivers will appreciate this illustration. I was terribly nervous the first few times any of my children with a new driver's license took the car out alone. I would beseech God to bring them home safely, and He did every time.
The next time they started out driving somewhere, I would again begin my intercession for their safety. And then, all too often, I would be convicted that I had failed to thank God for bringing them home safely the last time they drove. That experience was a good reminder to thank God for answered prayers.
Luke 17:11-18 tells of the time ten lepers asked Jesus to have pity on them. Jesus told them to go show themselves to the priest who could pronounce them clean. As the lepers went, they were cleansed. Only one of the healed lepers, a Samaritan, returned to thank Jesus. Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?"
Can't you imagine Jesus' disappointment? Surely we don't want to be like the ungrateful lepers. Hopefully, these examples will remind us to keep an attitude of gratitude at all times.
Heavenly Father, there are so many things for which we should be grateful. May we thank You and praise You continually, acknowledging that every good and perfect gift we have comes from Your gracious, generous hand. Amen.
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