The Default Prayer

Prayer means many things to many people. It means worship and it means requests. It means lifting up our thoughts to God and sometimes even listening for answers. A lot is written on prayer, both in books and in Scripture. I wonder if one of the reasons for this is the repeated prayers and instructions to pray in Scripture over against the confusion we all experience over prayer.

Prayer can be a difficult concept. How do we pray? If you haven't asked that, you may not be a disciple of Christ. His own disciples asked Him that and He answered. But more than that, what do we pray about? What is appropriate and what isn't? How do we deal with unanswered prayers? Even that question is a matter of debate. One side says, "God answers all prayers", but we all know what "unanswered prayer" feels like, so the question remains. Paul wrote that we don't know how to pray (Rom. 8:26). And there is always the question about the efficacy of prayer. (Yeah, that's a theologians term, isn't it?) We all wonder about just how effective prayer is. Some suggest that by praying we can change God's mind. Given an omniscient, immutable God, that's nonsense. So what does prayer do? If God knows everything, why tell Him anything?

Anyone who has read my blog for any amount of time knows that I don't claim to be the "Bible Answer Man" by any means. I tend to be the "Bible Question Man" more often than not. So I won't offer solutions to these thorny questions on prayer and its effects. What I would like to do is offer a default prayer. This prayer is a prayer that is always good. It will always have positive effects. It is always welcome to God's ears and always beneficial to the one who prays it. It is likely that this prayer should be not simply the default prayer ... the prayer that we pray when we're not sure what to say ... but probably the most common prayer we offer.

What is this wonderful prayer? It is a prayer sadly lacking among human beings in general and even among believers. This is due to a basic problem in the human nature. But along with the consummate command to pray, we are given the parallel command to pray this prayer. What is it?

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving (Col. 4:2).

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving (Col. 2:6-7).

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God (Phil. 4:6).

Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving (Eph. 5:4).

Talk to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 5:19-20).

In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thess. 5:18).

You know, I'm sure, that I could go on. I didn't even touch the Old Testament with passage after passage telling us to "give thanks". I think you're likely able to figure out the "default prayer" I'm suggesting. It's simple. "Thanks."

When? "In everything." For what? "For everything." How often? Whenever you pray. To what degree? "Abounding in thanksgiving". So when you stop to spend time with the Lord, say, "Thanks." When you're driving to or from work, say, "Thanks." When that crazy driver cuts you off and slams on his brakes, say, "Thanks." When something good happens, say, "Thanks." When something happens that isn't pleasant (but is guaranteed to be good - Rom. 8:28), say, "Thanks." Trust me. If you learn this prayer as a default prayer, it will have a marvelous impact on your life. It will decrease worry, increase contentment, improve your disposition, help mend relationships ... oh, the benefits go on and on. Try it; you'll like it.