Does this ever happen to you?
I sat down for my morning prayers with many concerns in my lap.
Events from yesterday, people who shared aching hearts with me lately, reminders of challenges all around me…
I could feel the weight of a long prayer list rolled up in my mind.
I opened to the Psalms and read this.
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
Psalm 9:1-2
So the first thing in my prayer is to give thanks and recount God’s wondrous deeds.
Watch the order carefully, it is not – my whole list of needs and then give some thanks.
That is what it would have been if I had not read this Psalm.
That is how it would have been if I just sat down and began with what was immediately burdening my heart.
But this Psalm stopped me and switched it around.
First came thanksgiving and adoration and then came supplications.
This switch in order is not a small thing.
Why is this a big deal?
Because when it came time to make my requests, I knew to Whom I come with them.
When it came time to go through my long, heavy list of needs I knew the weight and the glory of the One to whom I was bringing those needs.
My list represented so much that I wanted to see done.
But, most importantly, praise and thanksgiving reminded me of all that God has shown Himself capable of doing.
Let every prayer begin with praise.