The foundation of Judaism is thanking, we are guests in G-d’s word, and we can’t thank him enough. I don’t own anything.
The four levels of prayers are symbolized by the four runged in Jacob’s ladder. The first level of prayer: Petitioning. How do we know what we need?
The Modeh Ani contains the idea of something new. Everything is a reflection of something else, is there anything new? Where’s the “I” (the ego) comes from, it feels like no beginning? Where’s the “Ani” i.e. “I” is coming from?
The Modeh Ani hints at the resurrection. This enforces our faith and belief in the 13th principle of the Jewish faith, the ultimate resurrection.