REMEMBER THE NEED FOR THANKS

 My sweet little youngest grand is quite the character.  I love telling his Daddy he is paying for his childhood.  (What goes around comes around) He has an exuberance for life that makes us all smile, but with all that energy---comes a mind that is going 90 to nothing also.  You cannot take your eye off of him for a minute, and he knows NO fear!  He recently learned to pedal his bicycle and he is off to the races.  His Daddy is getting his exercise trying to keep up with him by jogging beside him.  Amazing how quickly they learn balance when you never use training wheels.  Those strider bikes were quite the innovation.

His parents limit the amount of sugar he ingests-for obvious reasons.  He quickly learned that Lulu always keeps snacks in her pantry and I am very indulgent with my grands when it comes to snacks.  When he comes to visit without his parents, it is a virtual parade back and forth to the pantry.  I have learned to give him a snack drawer and keep all the big containers up high--out of sight and reach.  He knows when he comes over I will have a variety of snacks in that drawer for him, but when the drawer is empty, snack time is over.  He has come to expect the snacks---takes them for granted---time to work on him being thankful.  He walks in the door expecting to visit the snack drawer and I had best have that drawer ready.  Single minded and focused on what he wants, he is not a happy camper when I fail to produce.

As I thought this over this morning, it occurred to me my prayers have become a long litany of what I want or think I need.  NOW--when I am praying for others, that is an act of unselfishness, but when I am focused on my own navel---my desires begin to cloud my relationship with God.  I become the expectant child who is not happy if my prayers are not answered in the manner I desire nor on my timetable.  My prayer time has become a dash to the drawer of supplication--for myself and others.  I need to back up---remember that acronym ACTS.  When I approach our Holy God, I should always begin with adoration and praise.  Then comes time to confess---my rebellion--my commissions and omissions. AND then---I should ALWAYS remember and be thankful for all God has done and will do---for His great love for me.  As I walk through the day, I often throw up thanks for something I am seeing or experiencing, but it is important in every prayer to be thankful.  Then and only then can I ask---and I should ask without expectation for how my supplication should be answered.  It is wonderful how God can use a 3 year old to show me my need for an attitude change.  We are never too old for God to teach us and I am so thankful He loves me enough to always desire the best for me.  

"Always be joyful and never stop praying.

Whatever happens,

keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ."

I Thessalonians 5:16-17