Thank God for All He Has Done

In Philippians 4:6 I read, “Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done." (NLT)

Many have one goal in life: to be happy. But they often go about it the wrong way. There’s good news, though. God has a four-part formula for happiness that will help me be more joyful, if I practice and apply it to my life.

I’ve already looked at the first two parts of the happiness formula: Worry about nothing and pray about everything. The third part focuses on the importance of gratitude: Thank God for anything.  

God wants me to talk to him about anything and everything. But I should pray more than just “give me” prayers: “God, give me this. God, give me that.”

Imagine if every time I had talked to my parents, I said, “Dad, give me 50 bucks. Mom, give me a car.” What kind of relationship would I have? Parents want their kids sometimes just to stop and say, “Thank you for what you’ve already given me.”

God is the same way. He also wants me to stop and say, “Heavenly Father, thanks! Thanks for what you have given me.” This is the kind of prayer that leads to happiness. No matter how bleak my situation gets, I can always find something to be thankful for.

The Bible says, “Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (Philippians 4:6 NLT).

The story of Jesus healing 10 people with leprosy is a good example of how thanking God “for all he has done” affects happiness.

In the Bible, people who had leprosy were social outcasts. Nobody wanted to get close to them for fear that they might get leprosy. But Jesus treated all 10 with compassion, healing each one of them. Yet the Bible says that, after being healed, only one turned back: “And he lay face downward at Jesus’ feet, thanking Him [over and over]” (Luke 17:16 AMP).

Like the leper who turned back, am I grateful for what Jesus has done for me? Then turn to God in prayer, and happily thank him “over and over.”

In summary, tell God what I need, and then thank him for all he has done. Many have one goal to be happy. But they often go about it the wrong way. God has a four-part formula for happiness that will help me be more joyful, if I practice and apply it to my life. The first two parts of the happiness formula: Worry about nothing and pray about everything. The third part focuses on the importance of gratitude: Thank God for anything. God wants me to talk to him about anything and everything. I need to pray more than just “give me” prayers, learn to stop and say, “Thank you for what you’ve already given me.” No matter how bleak my situation gets, I can always find something to be thankful for. Be grateful for what Jesus has done for me. Then turn to God in prayer, and happily thank him.

Imagine never worrying about anything! It seems like an impossibility; as we all have worries on the job and in my home life. But Paul's advice is to turn our worries into prayers. If I want to worry less, then I need to pray more. Whenever I start to worry, stop and pray instead.

Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. 

Today, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in others lives. I pray all these things through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen.