Prayer WITH Thankfulness

Colossians 4:2
"Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving."

I've been recently aware of the word thankfulness in correlation to a call of prayer in Scripture. Philippians tells us to be anxious about nothing but to bring everything to the Lord in prayer WITH thanksgiving. Chapter 2 of Colossians speaks of allowing the peace of God to rule in our hearts and to BE thankful. Then here in chapter 4 a call to be on guard and watchful in prayer WITH thanksgiving.
The Greek word for thanksgiving used is eucharistia, meaning thankfulness and gratitude. I believe that God has a reason to connect prayer and thankfulness---as if a call to us that we will receive what we are seeking after in prayer if we first have a heart of gratitude for all we have already received.
2 Corinthians tells us that every promise of God is YES and AMEN in Jesus Christ (1:20). We have been forgiven, reconciled, redeemed, restored, all through the work of Christ. Beyond---we have been accepted, sealed, given every spiritual blessing; yet how often we do not walk in the thankfulness of realization of all we have already received? Often times we come to God in prayer with expectation or want of Him to give us our request, to fix a situation troubling us, to supply an area of lack---we can be so consumed with our need that we forget to first reflect on all the promises of supply He has given to us. Colossians tell us that we are complete in Him (2:9), we lack nothing when connected in fellowship to Himself, the source of everlasting life. If we would come to the Lord in an attitude of thankfulness when we pray, perhaps the peace we are yearning for in the situation will be ours for the taking before even the answer of the request comes. When we pause and realize all we have received in Him, we will have hearts prepared to receive whatever answer He chooses to give to our present request.
Have you ever heard of a Christian left disappointed in prayer? Maybe that has been you. Is there any shadow of turning in our God? Any characteristic that avails disappointment? All His ways are just and true, it is only the state of our hearts that gives way to disappointment in answer to our prayers. A heart coming to prayer vigilant, aware of our need for prayer, and WITH thankfulness, appreciative and content with all we have, is a heart that will only walk away with more gratitude after prayer and never disappointment.
A thankful heart is a prepared heart for the answer of the Lord. Perhaps we should come to prayer in request of His desires to be accomplished and not our own desires being answered.

Today I'm challenged in my view on prayer. I want to have a heart of thankfulness for all I have received...I lack nothing, so be the answer to my prayer is "no", or "yes", may my heart be unmoved but guarded by Christ Jesus as I look to Him with a heart of gratitude and thankfulness.
Today I will spend time thanking Him for all I have already received before brining to Him the concerns and requests of my heart in prayer.