Swap Worry for a Prayer of Thanks

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.  – Philippians 4:6

As the holidays creep closer (seriously, how is it November already?), the to-do list starts growing faster than a kid’s Christmas wish list. Between buying gifts, putting up decorations, planning parties, and still keeping up with work, bills, and life in general—it’s no wonder we start feeling a little bah humbug.

Here’s a thought—have you ever considered prayer as a resource? I know, we usually think of prayer as talking to God about what we need (and maybe dropping a few “help me, Lord!” moments in there). But prayer is also how we connect with the One who already provides what we need. When we thank God in prayer, we’re reminding ourselves that He’s faithful and that He’s got it all under control—even when our calendars look like a hot mess.

The thing is, worry likes to hijack our prayers. One minute we’re saying, “Thank You, Lord,” and the next, we’re spiraling into “Oh no, did I remember to order that gift?” But gratitude helps us hit reset.

So, for this Thankful Thursday, let’s flip the script. Start your prayers with gratitude. Thank God for His faithfulness, for His will being done (even when it’s not on our color-coded planner), and for providing what we need—yes, even during the holiday madness.

Pray about everything—especially the holiday stress—and take a breath knowing God’s got you covered. Gratitude isn’t just a feeling; it’s a way to realign our hearts with Him.

When we choose thankful prayer over wallowing anxiety and worry, we are demonstrating an unwavering trust in God. – Priscilla Shirer