I’m a huge fan of “Little Rascals” -- both the 1994 movie and the old 1920s TV series. Part of the plot involved a club for some of the boys in the neighborhood in which the story was set. There were certain rules the boys had to abide by. If not, there were repercussions. There’s a scene in the 1994 movie that always makes me giggle. Spanky, their leader, calls an emergency meeting and you see all the boys pile into their clubhouse. One of the guys stands outside the door, making sure all the boys give the “hi sign” before they are allowed to enter the clubhouse. The sign is simply putting a hand underneath their chin and waving their fingers. I will admit, I’ve given the “hi sign” numerous times over the years (usually to little kids).

But here’s a thought: what if we viewed “thanksgiving” as our “hi sign” to enter the presence of God? “Enter His gates with thanksgiving … ” is what the Scripture says. Athlete, what if we thought of “thank you” as our password to come before the Lord? How different would our prayers and perspectives be? I know I tend to go before the Lord with a laundry list of requests, but what if I came to Him first with a simple “thank you?” He is the God of the Universe and there are numerous things for which I can thank Him.

Prayer to consider today: Lord, thank you. Thank you for all that You have done for me and all that You allow me to do. Thank You for waking me up this morning and for the breath I take. Thank you, Lord, thank you.

Reflect: What would it look like for you to view “thank you” as your password to enter God’s presence?

Challenge: Before you pray for anything, thank God for something.

Outreach Challenge: When you’re talking with someone, ask them the question, “Who do you say Jesus is?” (Or some variation of this question.) This could be a good question for both Christians and non-Christians to consider. Who knows where the conversation will go!