A Prayer of Thanksgiving

Thank you.

Lord, the words don’t even seem adequate to express the gratitude in my heart. You are more than I deserve, more than I could ask for. You are with me always, in all circumstances.

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

When my life crumbled, you were there, gently holding me, pursuing me, loving me back into your sheepfold. It was hard to thank you at the time, but I look back now with gratitude for even the most painful trials. You taught me of your love and faithfulness, of your goodness and grace. You showed me immense forgiveness and mercy in the midst of my sin. And because of the relationship I built in the trials of this life, I can be thankful in all circumstances because I know you are working for my good and your glory.

You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever! Psalm 30:11-12

After nearly a decade of mourning, watching painful waves of trials sweep over us, I can truly say you have repaid all we have lost…and more. You have taken away our mourning and we can now dance in the beauty of your redemption! Our hearts sing with praise for all you have done in us and through us! How could we ever remain silent? We must tell of your goodness, of the deeds you have done in our midst! And as we look around at our lives, we see your hand in every detail. Thank you for your constant presence, your faithful work all around us…even when we couldn’t see it.

The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. Psalm 28:7

If there’s one thing I have learned along this journey, it’s about learning to trust you with my whole heart. It’s been hard, hard to release my grip and throw all my burdens upon you. It’s been hard to relax and learn to trust you in the silence. It’s hard.

But you truly help us. Your heart toward us is good, filled with plans to give us hope and future. And I’ve learned that you are always with us, even when it seems you are far away.

Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 106:1

I’ve learned of your faithfulness, of how you provide your manna for your people. It may be just enough to get us through the next hours, but it’s always enough. And as we see your provisions, we learn to trust you will always be there, providing exactly what we need, exactly when we need it. I’ve seen your faithfulness as you’ve blessed the work of our hands, opening doors only you can open. I’ve seen your faithfulness in the lives of my children, as you work to put their broken hearts back together. You are always there, always faithful

Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness. Thank you that you are good. Thank you that your love endures forever. Where would we be without you?

I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord. Psalm 116:7

My heart today is one of thanksgiving. Thank you for the many good gifts you have placed in my life. Thank you for loving me enough not to leave me in my sin and pain. Thank you for picking up the pieces of my life, for healing me and teaching me to trust you. Thank you for turning my mourning into joy, for replacing the tears with laughter. Thank you for faithfully guiding me into the future you have for me. Thank you for doing more than I could ever ask or imagine through this journey. Thank you for answering when I call on your name.

We thank you, O God! We give thanks because you are near. People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds. Psalm 75:1

Thank you, Lord, that you are always near. Whether in the sadness and tears or in the laughter and joy, we know you are with us, loving us, guiding us, providing for us. Thank you for doing wonderful deeds in our life that we might share the story of your faithfulness, that we might point others to you through the wonderful deeds you do in our lives. Thank you for never leaving our side.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High. Psalm 92:1

As we enter this thanksgiving season, let us not lose sight of you. Let us turn our hearts toward you, to enter your gates with thanksgiving and your courts with song. Let us lift up holy hands as an offering of praise to you, knowing you inhabit the praises of your people.

Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Psalm 105:1

May our words and deeds point the world back to you, proclaiming your greatness in our lives. May our spirits of thanksgiving let the whole world know what you have done for us, in us, through us.

And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20

Help us remember thanks is not just for the good moments. It’s for all things, in all things. In the pain. In the sorrow. In the fear. You are always with us, always using the trials to make us in your image. Help us remember to give thanks in all things as hard as it sometimes might be.

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. Colossians 3:17

Wherever we are and whatever we do, may words of thanksgiving always be on our lips and in our hearts. May we always remember to be your representative.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.  Psalm 100:4

Let us always come in to your presence with thanksgiving, remembering your goodness.

Father, you have blessed us in so many ways. May we be overcome with gratitude for who you are and what you have done.

Turn our hearts to you…today and always.