The standard mode of Christian prayer is based on Luke 18:13To Him and each other.“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’. . . and we give thanks in prayer in that mode. But Dennis Prager The Key to Unhappiness (5½ minutes, but a jewel) has made the point that unhappiness and ingratitude are pretty much the same thing. Thus, that happiness and gratitude are likewise hard to separate.
If someone gives you a present, your reflexive response is not to bow your head and solemnly say you are grateful. Will you not instead beam with joy and say anything nice you can about the gift’s excellence and serviceability to you?It makes me wonder if the traditional expressions of thanksgiving to God are consistent. Would not we do better to smile and say, “Thanks, God - this is just what I needed and wanted?"
How about “More than I asked for”?