A Simple Prayer of Thanksgiving

Thank you, God for the times You have said “no.” They have helped me depend on You so much more.
Thank you, God, for unanswered prayer. It reminds me that You know what’s best for me, even when my opinion differs from Yours.
Thank You, Lord, for the things you have withheld from me. You have protected me from what I may never realize.
Thank You, God, for the doors You have closed. They have prevented me from going where You would rather not have me go.
Thank you, Lord, for the physical pain You’ve allowed in my life. It has helped me more closely relate to Your sufferings on my behalf.
Thank you, Lord, for the alone times in my life. Those times have forced me to lean in closer to You.
Thank you, God, for the uncertainties I’ve experienced. They have deepened my trust in You.
Thank You, Lord, for the times You came through for me when I didn’t even know I needed a rescue.
Thank You, Lord, for the losses I have experienced. They have been a reminder that You are my greatest gain.
Thank You, God, for the tears I have shed. They have kept my heart soft and mold-able.
Thank You, God, for the times I haven’t been able to control my circumstances. They have reminded me that You are sovereign and on the throne.
Thank You, God, for those people in my life whom You have called home to be with You. Their absence from this earth keeps my heart longing for heaven.
Thank You, God, that I have an inheritance in the heavenly places…something that this world can never steal from me and I could never selfishly squander.
Thank You, God, for the greatest gift You could ever give me: forgiveness through Your perfect Son’s death on the cross on my behalf.
Thank You, God, for the righteousness You credited toward me, through the death and resurrection of Jesus. It’s a righteousness I could never earn or attain on my own.
Thank You, Father, that You know me, You hear me, and You see my tears. Remind me through difficult times that You are God, You are on the throne, and You are eternally good.
And thank You, Lord, not only for my eternal salvation, but for the salvation You afford every day of my life as You save me from myself, my foolishness, my own limited insights, and my frailties in light of Your power and strength.

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– Cindy McMenamin, Author

The Thanksgiving Song/Prayer

Grateful for each hand we hold
Gathered round this table.
From far and near we travel home,
Blessed that we are able.
Grateful for this sheltered place
With light in every window,
Saying welcome, welcome, share this feast
Come in away from sorrow.
Father, mother, daughter, son,
Neighbor, friend and friendless;
All together everyone in the gift of loving-kindness.
Grateful for whats understood,
And all that is forgiven;
So thankful for Christ our LORD
Who made our life worth living.
Father, mother, daughter, son,
Neighbor, friend, and friendless;
All together everyone, let grateful days be endless.
Grateful for each hand we hold
Gathered round this table.

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– Mary Chapin Carpenter – Thanksgiving Song Lyrics 

A Prayer For A Thankful Heart

Lord, teach me to offer you a heart of thanksgiving and praise in all my daily experiences of life. Teach me to be joyful always, to pray continually and to give thanks in all my circumstances. I will to rejoice in You always. I long to bring pleasure to Your heart daily. Break the power of sin in my life. Deliver me from the evil one. Change my outlook and attitude into one of joyful contentment with my present circumstances. I thank You for difficult circumstances: they teach me patience and deepen my faith.

Jesus, I want to be like You. I want to obey the Father without complaint. Convict me when I complain or compare myself with others. Give me, I pray, Your attitude of humility and thankful acceptance. I want to be like the Apostle Paul who learned contentment in every circumstance. I will to praise You. I long to bring a smile to Your face. Teach me the power of a thankful heart. I know that Your truth dwells in a thankful heart.

“I will give thanks to the LORD because of His righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory above the heavens” (Psalm 7:17-18:1). In Jesus’ name, amen.

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– Debbie Przybylski, Intercessors Arise International

A Prayer For Protection

{Based on Psalm 17}

Hear my cause, O Lord; listen to my cry for help. I have examined by heart, my prayer is honest; I’m on the level. Father, You are holy and just. You see things as they are whereas we see them as they appear to be. Your eyes can detect a bad motive or an evil heart. If You try my faith; if you put me to the test, there must be a reason. If You are testing my son, there is a reason, a good reason. Our problem at present does not involve others, it is not about what others have done to us. No one has mistreated us–our problem pertains to our faith and our personal walk with You. Can we trust You in the darkness? Can we believe in You when heaven is silent and our prayers are not being answered? I call upon You to break the silence–speak to us. In some wondrous or simple way, reaffirm Your love for us. Perhaps it would be a simple recollection of the cross and what Jesus did for us there. Although He was abused and mistreated, He did not respond in kind, He did not curse His enemies or retaliate in any form. During heavens silence, He showed Himself weak in order to save us. Father, keep the cross ever on our minds. It should be the only reminder we need of Your love for us. Please guard my son, hide him in the shadow of your wings. I am not asking for riches or honor, only for his peace of mind. Jesus was surrounded by those who hated Him. They mocked and ridiculed Him as He suffered for our sins. We are surrounded by friends who love us and our praying for us. Deliver us from our fears and fill us with Your peace. Someday LORD, and it will not be long, we will awaken and see Your face–when we do, we will see righteousness and peace and our hearts with be satisfied. In Jesus name, we pray! Amen.

[6/15/17]

Solomon’s Prayer

Solomon

O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like You in all of heaven and earth. You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion. You have kept Your promise to your servant David, my father. You made that promise with Your own mouth, and with Your own hands You have fulfilled it today. “And now, O Lord, God of Israel, carry out the additional promise you made to your servant David, my father. For you said to him, ‘If your descendants guard their behavior and faithfully follow my Law as You have done, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.’  Now, O Lord, God of Israel, fulfill this promise to your servant David. But will You really live on earth among people? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built!  Nevertheless, please listen to my prayer and my plea, O Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that Your servant is making to you. May You watch over Your people day and night and this may you always their prayers.  May You hear the humble and earnest requests of your people from heaven where you live, and when You hear, forgive. If the skies are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against You, and if they pray toward this Temple and acknowledge your name and turn from their sins because You have punished them, then hear from heaven and forgive the sins of Your servants, Your people Israel. Teach them to follow the right path, and send rain on your land that you have given to Your people as their special possession. Give Your people what their actions deserve,  for You alone know each human heart. Then they will fear you and walk in your ways as long as they live in the land you gave to our ancestors. In the future, foreigners who do not belong to your people Israel will hear of You. They will come from distant lands when they hear of Your great name and Your strong hand and Your powerful arm. And when they pray [in Your Son’s name], then You will hear from heaven where You live, and grant what they ask of You. In this way, all the people of the earth will come to know and fear You, just as Your own people Israel do. [They too will know that Jesus is Your beloved Son and the real TEMPLE that men worship and pray to].

 [Based on II Chronicles 6…abbreviated version]

David’s Prayer of Thanks [2 Sam.7]

Lord All-Powerful, my family and I don’t deserve what You have already done for us, and yet You have promised to do even more. Is this the way you usually treat people? I am your servant, and You know my thoughts, so there is nothing more that I need to say. You have done this wonderful thing, and You have let me know about it, because You wanted to keep your promise.

Lord All-Powerful, You are greater than all others. No one is like you, and you alone are God. Everything we have heard about you is true. And there is no other nation on earth like Israel, the nation you rescued from slavery in Egypt to be your own. You became famous by using great and wonderful miracles to force other nations and their gods out of your land, so your people could live here. You have chosen Israel to be your people forever, and you have become their God.

And now, Lord God, please do what you have promised me and my descendants. Then you will be famous forever, and everyone will say, “The Lord God All-Powerful rules Israel, and David’s descendants are his chosen kings.” After all, you really are Israel’s God, the Lord All-Powerful. You’ve told me that you will let my descendants be kings. That’s why I have the courage to pray to you like this, even though I am only your servant.

Lord All-Powerful, you are God. You have promised me some very good things, and you can be trusted to do what you promise. Please bless my descendants and let them always be your chosen kings. You have already promised, and I’m sure that you will bless my family forever.

A Prayer Praise and Commitment

Father, keep me from pride and arrogance. In spite of my many failures, pride continues to be a thorn in my flesh. Please Father, help me understand that I am the chief of sinners so that I will not to look down on anyone else. I do not do great things; I cannot solve great mysteries or do miracles but I commit myself to small things like helping my neighbor, visiting the sick and sharing your word. Please give me a quiet and gentle spirit like a child in the arms of its loving mother. I want to know the peace of a baby in its mother’s arms. People of America, put your hope in Jesus. Believe in Him now, believe in Him always. Jesus is our only hope.

[Based on Psalm 131]

A Plea for Courage!

Father please listen to my request. My heart and mind are troubled. You will keep me in perfect peace if I trust in you, and fix my thoughts on you! I hear the voices of my enemies and allow men to intimidate me. My heart is racing fast and I am afraid of those who can kill the body. I am trembling with fear. I am completely terrified. I do not want to live in fear and you are my only hope of peace and courage. If I had the wings of a dove, I would fly away to some peaceful place where I felt safe. I would get out of the storm if I only had the means to do so. Since I cannot run from my problems, I need to face them but I lack the courage to do so, therefore I come to You and ask You to give me courage and strength to face the storm. Lord Jesus, You walked into Jerusalem and faced Your enemies. You were not afraid. With courage you faced them and confronted them with truth. You even prayed for them when they mistreated You. Father it is hard for us to face our enemies, let alone love them. Father we do not see things clearly. Truly, You are the only one who knows our real enemies. We know that Satan opposes us; we know that the world opposes us; we know that our own flesh will betray us and yea, sometimes our friends will turn on us. We live in the sanctuary of Your presence. We take refuge under the shadow of your wing. You are our protection. If it were not for YOU our enemies would consume us. Thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank You for loving and caring for us. Thank you for sanctuary and protection. In Jesus name, I pray.

Pray For The World

Father, You so loved the world that You gave Your only begotten Son. You sent Him not to condemn us but to save us from self, sin, death, hell and this evil world system which has a default sitting and that sitting is hatred for Christ. I am not praying for the evil world system that is antichrist: I am praying for the people who are being deceived by the world and its prince. I am praying for all people, every kindred and every tongue; especially the Jewish people whom the church needs desperately to get the gospel to the uttermost parts, to recognize that You sent Jesus and that He is the Messiah Savior King. I know that the world system which is orchestrated by Satan will persecute anyone who puts their faith in Christ so I pray for all believers and future believers. I pray that you will deliver us from the evil one. I pray that You would unify us, make us one like the Holy Trinity. Set us a part for Your service and sanctify us with Your word of truth. Fill us with joy unspeakable so that when persecuted, we may respond graciously with love and kindness instead of anger and resentment. I am not asking YOU to take us out of the world, although that would be easier for us but I am praying that You will take the world out of us which will make us more fitting vessels. Use us for Your glory and bring us home when our work on earth is done . In Jesus name, I pray. Amen!

Prayer To Be Blessed

Father we covet Your blessing so that we can be a blessing to You by being a blessing to others. Please teach us, condition us to understand when we are at the end of our rope or at wits end, there is less of us but more of You. When feel the grief of loss, may we see the glory to be gained, for sorrow is a masterful teacher. When physical deaths separates us temporarily from those we love, help us convert our grief into love for others. As we grow older and experience more and more loss like hearing, sight and memory, remind us daily that our true wealth is in Christ and our future is in heaven. Father, increase our appetite for Your word; enhance our passion for worship and our love for people. Help us to love others the way we love ourselves. Abba Father, help us get the inside right and this will put the outside in proper perspective. Give us the humility to cooperate instead of compete. Grace us to rejoice when we are criticized, slandered or even persecuted. Help us overcome evil with good. Give us a sense of victory even in the midst of apparent defeat. Enable us to see the Martyrs and Saints cheering us on. Let us hear the applause of heaven give us the deep assurance that Jesus is our faithful High Priest and He is praying for us. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen!