Photo by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash
A PRAYER FOR THANKSGIVING
Before setting out into your own celebrations of Thanksgiving, however large or small, usual or unusual they may be, let's begin by actually giving thanks (now there's a novel idea!). My prayer for you all is that you would take just a brief moment to reflect on these four simple truths that Eugene Peterson would remind his children of as they were growing up.
God loves you.
Give thanks for a time when He showed this love to you.
Where do you need to remember His love for you even today?
He's on your side.
Give thanks for a time when you knew that, if not for Him, you would be lost.
Where do you need a Comforter or Advocate to come alongside you today?
He's coming after you.
Give thanks for a time when God sought you like a sheep who had gone astray.
In what part of your life have you wandered? Call out for his help, right now.
He's relentless.
Give thanks for a time when God never quit, though you were utterly tapped out.
Where are you tempted to give in and give up? Be still and know the battle is His.
I'll close with a couple prayers to help you give voice to your thansgiving and to set a grateful tone to your day, regardless what it holds:
Most gracious God, by whose knowledge the depths are broken up and the clouds drop down the dew: We give you hearty thanks and deep praise for the return of seed time and harvest,
for the increase of the ground and the gathering in of its fruits,
and for all other blessings of thy merciful providence bestowed upon us.
And, we humbly ask that You would give us a just sense of these great mercies,
such as may appear in our lives by a humble, holy, and obedient walking before You all our days.
And we give You thanks as well, most gracious God,
for the beauty of earth and sky and sea;
for the richness of mountains, plains, and rivers;
for the songs of birds and the loveliness of flowers.
We praise you for these good gifts, and pray that we may safeguard them for our posterity.
Grant that we may continue to grow in our grateful enjoyment of your abundant creation,
to the honor and glory of your Name, now and for ever. Amen.
Be encouraged, friend, for God, the Maker of Heaven and Earth, who spoke all worlds into being, is both with you and for you.
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