Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:1
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thess. 5:18
The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me. Psalm 50:23
Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Eph. 5:20
Dear heavenly Father, before we have a chance to whine today, we want to worship you; before we start counting our disappointments, we want to declare our encouragements; before we fall into fretting and blaming, we cho0se to rejoice and give thanks. You have given us ample reasons to do so.
First and foremost, we bless you, Father, for your steadfast, unwavering, and enduring love. Most of our gripes can be traced back to not believing you love us as much as you say you do. We look to people and stuff, circumstances and storylines to fill the agape-shaped hole in our hearts. It never works, and we only end up making ourselves and other people miserable. By your Holy Spirit, renew and supersize our core conviction of the utter sufficiency, and immeasurable wonder of your love for us in Jesus. Hallelujah, the gospel is true!
And Father, we also thank you (by faith) for circumstances we can’t control, people we can’t change, and regrets we can’t undo. For these things drive us to Jesus in ways we, otherwise, wouldn’t choose for ourselves. Though we’d rather be self-sufficient, you call us to be Christ-dependent; though we’d rather be the author of all stories, you’ve made us characters in your Story; though we’d rather be the in-charge potter, you’ve made us to be the malleable clay. By your Holy Spirit, give us joy in our weaknesses; trust in our weariness and gratitude in all things.
Lastly, Father, thank you for more creature comforts than we deserve; good friends with whom to share the raptures and ruptures of life; your commitment to bring your good work in us (and in the universe) to completion; and our coming life of beauty and bliss in the new heaven and new earth. These are just a few of the things for which we are grateful today. Remind us of 1000 more. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ wonderful and merciful name.
