Two of the Most Powerful Words You Can Pray

By Justin Jeppesen

Few things make me more aware of the goodness of God’s presence than hearing children pray. I was humbled recently when, in a moment of hurrying to eat dinner with my family before an evening activity, I asked my 8-year-old son to pray. The first two words out of his mouth, as they often are, were “thank You.” He went on to pray several sentences, each beginning with saying “thank You.” After smothering a myriad of things in thanksgiving, from the food on our table to the colors of the fall leaves to our family, the prayer ended. But the impact on my heart and mind continued to resound.

Now, I share this not to toot my own horn as a father, but more to sound my own alarm as a follower of Jesus. My natural bent is not towards thanksgiving. I tend to forget more often than I remember. It’s been said that children are so much better at receiving than adults, while adults excel at trying to achieve. Yet, saying “thank You” to the Lord in prayer has a special way of slowing us down and posturing us to savor the goodness of God’s presence. Thanksgiving helps us to remember, with a renewed childlike faith, all that we have graciously received from our Heavenly Father. We can live with an attitude of dependent and grateful receiving rather than a striving and prideful achieving. Saying “thank You” in prayer is one of the primary ways we can aim our attention, affection, and adoration towards the Almighty.

Saying “thank You” to the Lord in prayer has a special way of slowing us down and posturing us to savor the goodness of God’s presence.

It’s no surprise, then, that thanksgiving runs like a golden thread through the storyline of the Scriptures. I love the ancient song that reveals a timeless truth, as Psalm 100 declares,

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

and his courts with praise!

Give thanks to him; bless his name!

For the Lord is good;

his steadfast love endures forever,

and his faithfulness to all generations (Psalm 100:4-5).

Saying “thank You” in prayer is one of the primary ways we can aim our attention, affection, and adoration towards the Almighty.

The most fitting way to acknowledge God’s goodness, especially in community, is to begin with thanksgiving. Thanksgiving might be the title of a national holiday, but it ought to be a banner over our everyday life all year long because “His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.”

I’ve also recently been struck by how often the words “thank You” passed through our Savior’s lips in prayer to His Heavenly Father. He prayed “thank You” to the Father who hides His kingdom truths from the “wise” and reveals them to children (Matthew 11:25). He gave thanks right before He miraculously fed a crowd of thousands from a boy’s ancient Lunchable (John 6:11). Jesus prayed “thank You” to the Father for hearing His prayer right before He raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:41). Of course, how could we not mention how our Lord “gave thanks” when He instituted the Last Supper (Luke 22:17) and again after His resurrection, when He revealed Himself to His confused disciples on the Emmaus Road (Luke 24:30). It seems that thanksgiving always preceded an act of our Savior’s provision, power, or revelation, all rooted in the desire to initiate, build, and deepen authentic relationships.

Thanksgiving always preceded an act of our Savior’s provision, power, or revelation, all rooted in the desire to initiate, build, and deepen authentic relationships.

Saying “thank You” to God in prayer sets a transformative trajectory for our lives. I am reminded of the words of German theologian and philosopher Meister Eckhart, who succinctly proclaimed, “If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.” Indeed, “thank You” are two of the most powerful and foundational words we can pray.

Saying “thank You” to God in prayer sets a transformative trajectory for our lives. I am reminded of the words of German theologian and philosopher Meister Eckhart, who succinctly proclaimed, “If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.”

I’m convinced there’s an intimate correlation between singing God’s Word and praying God’s Word. So, for the remainder of this devotional, I encourage you to listen to the following song (“Thank You, Lord”) led by Shane and Shane, and then use the corresponding prayer guide individually or as you gather with family this Thanksgiving.

“Thank You, Lord” by Shane and Shane

For all that You’ve done I will thank You

For all that You’re going to do

For all that You’ve promised and all that You are

Is all that has carried me through

Jesus, I thank You

Oh, I thank You, thank You, Lord

Thank You for loving and setting me free

Thank You for giving Your life just for me

How I thank You

Jesus, I thank You

Gratefully thank You

Oh, I thank You

I thank You

“Thank You, Lord” Prayer Guide

Reverence

God’s Praiseworthy Attributes Revealed in the Son

-He fulfilled His promises

-He carries us through hard times

-He loves us

-He has set us free

-He has sacrificially given His life for us

Suggested Prayer Prompts

Jesus, thank You for keeping Your promise to…
Jesus, thank You for carrying me through the hardship of…
Jesus, thank You that Your love has set me free from…
Thank You that because You laid down Your life for me…

Response

Father, I confess that I do not express thanksgiving because I take for granted that…
Jesus, I repent of my ingratitude over Please renew in me an attitude of thanksgiving so that…
Sometimes I find it hard to be thankful because I struggle to really receive Your…

Requests

Lord, I thank You that because You have ___________, I can…
Jesus, please carry (name) through their difficulty of ___________ so that thanksgiving would arise to You!
Father, I thank You that You are able to reveal Your perfect love to (name) so that…
Lord Jesus, help us to be thankful even when…

Readiness

Jesus, I thank You that one day You will…
Lord, thank You that because You love me, I can walk in victory over…