You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you. Psalm 119:28 ESV
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thess. 5:18 NLT
Heavenly Father, we want to begin (and continue) this day with a commitment to being grateful, irrespective of whether we’re feelin’ it or not. We want to wage war against whining and carping, comparing and coveting. For the glory of your name, the health of our hearts, and the benefit to our neighbors, we acknowledge you’ve given us copious reasons to rejoice and give thanks.
For glorious instance, thank you for writing our names in heaven (Luke 10:20)—for enrolling us in the Book of Life with the indelible ink of your grace (Rev. 3:5). Nothing can separate us from your love, pry us from Jesus’ hand, or revoke our citizenship in heaven.
Your steadfast love endures forever, because of Jesus’ once-and-for-all work on our behalf. You’ve hidden our lives in Christ, clothed us in his righteousness, and grant us fresh mercies every day. We live in your permanent favor, constant delight, and unbreakable providence. This is our faith declaration; make it our more-than-real delight.
Father, though we don’t always understand your ways, see your hand, or like your timing, the gospel frees us to trust you in the 9/11’s, Florence’s, and wildfires of life; when the power’s off, traffic’s bad, and lines are long.
Thank you for being sovereign over our joys and tears, rejoicings and sufferings. Thank you for loving us equally on the days we declare, “Great is thy faithfulness!”, and during the days we cry out, “How long, O Lord?”
Father, thank you for telling us some things will only make sense later, for we see dimly and know partially (1 Cor. 13:9). Forgive us when we want answers more than we want you, and when we want pain relief more than we want changed hearts.
We await the Day of wiped tears and redeemed pain, finished stories and no brokenness. Until that glorious Day, we purpose to remain grateful—when we’re “feelin’ it,” and when we’re not. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ beautiful and trustworthy name.
