Thankful

A friend once gave me a wonderful acronym for praying:  ACTS.  She said that she often started praying like this:

"Dear Lord, thank you for this beautiful day, and the flowers that are growing, and remind me I need to go get some fertilizer and after I do that I need to get the battery fixed in the car, and then thank you for the birds, and I should put some water in the bird bath....." and before you know it, she's off in left field and forgot the reason she was praying.

This happens, we humans aren't perfect (news flash, I know, but there you are - another pearl and aren't you glad you tuned in today!!!)

So back to ACTS: 

A=Awe (come before God with Awe.  I liken this to walking into one of the grand cathedrals of Europe: Westminster, Notre Dame de Paris, St. Paul's Basilica, and feeling completely small and tiny - sort of like the way I would feel in space.  I think that just about says Awe!)
C=Confession - easy enough, although some of those sins can sneak in pretty stealthy-like.
T=Thanksgiving - today's subject, and yes, I'm getting there.
S=Supplication - we all know this part - asking for stuff!

It's really a neat way to stay on track with your prayers.

But back to thankfulness.  It is very important - as important as it is to stay focused, to be thankful.  Be thankful for what you have, you can always be thankful for something.

Here's a list helper to start you off.  Download this and start making your list. 

Next make another list of the things you want that are coming your way.  A sure way to get them is to start being thankful for them today.

Another part of this thankful part is to give back.  Now, I'm not talking about giving away your food, but I am talking about giving part of what you take in.  It's no secret in the Old Testament that while the Jews were giving prolifically to their priests and Tabernacles and Synagogues, they were a very prosperous people.  It's only when they stop giving, that they became poor again.

What you give away, always comes back to you, and you can repeat this blessing each time you give something to insure that:

I bless this (check, money, amount of money) that I give and with God's help will receive 10/100/1000 times this amount back to me.

Now you have asked God and put your good out into the world.  Believe that you will receive it, and it will be so.