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 

Dear Abby’s Thanksgiving Prayer

O Heavenly Father:
We thank Thee for food and remember the hungry.
We thank Thee for health and remember the sick.
We thank Thee for friends and remember the friendless.
We thank Thee for freedom and remember the enslaved.
May these remembrances stir us to service.
That Thy gifts to us may be used for others. Amen.

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– “Dear Abby” Columnist

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

Prayer of Praise and Thanksgiving

Our Father who is in heaven, Your name should be and will be honored in all of Christendom and throughout the world. You are all mighty and always present. You dwell in the heavens above and in the hearts within. You are everywhere and all things exist because of You. You are the source of life and You set the boundaries as to how far men can go. You are unconquerable: no army can stop you, no earthy power can become your rival. You are above and beyond all human powers. At the blast of Your breath, the word of Your mouth or the thought of Your mind, kingdoms fall and armies perish. Who can stand before You or against You? Your anger is greater than any weapon we can form. Human defiance enhances Your glory. You don’t have to judge us, our sins will bring us low. Only You can save us from our sin. You are glorious and majestic. The highest mountain pales in comparison to You. You are great and awesome and we would be wise to respect YOU and give You our worship and allegiance. You break the power of enslaving sin, You set the captive free. Your blood can make the vilest clean; it even cleansed a sinner like me.

{Based on meditations of Psalm 76}

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.

Thanksgiving For Christ

Father we thank You that we live on this side of the cross; that the agony of Christ is pass and no more sacrifices are needed. We are very thankful that the blood of Christ grants us the right of access which enables us to worship and pray. What a relief to know that Christ has paid for all our sins in full. We further thank you that Christ made Himself an offering for our sins by laying down His life. We thank you that in Christ one offering made us forever perfect in Your sight. We thank you for the privilege and right to enter Your very presence because of the blood of Jesus. Thank you for this fresh, new, life-giving way that Christ has opened up for us by tearing the curtain—his human body—to let us into Your holy presence. Thank You that we have a great High Priest who rules over Your household, which allows us to be near You to enjoy the bliss and blessedness of Your presence. We thank You that we have something to look forward to and that we no longer have to be tormented with doubt. As a gesture of our gratitude, we commit to being kind and gracious to others. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

 

[Hebrews 10, selected]

The Servant’s Prayer

Father, You know that I am only a servant. The only authority that I have is that which is given to me by the Lord Jesus. I can not command unless I first obey. You are the prime mover, I am the moved. You make things happen by the power of Your word and Your will. You speak and things happen. This is why You are great, infinitely great! This is why there is no one like You. You have the awesome power to deliver us from the bondage of sin. You have called us out from a world of darkness and given us a future and a hope. Father it is my desire that You be honored by my humble devotion to Your will. I have no will but Thine; Your will has become mine. You are the LORD God almighty; the great I AM, the self-existent eternal One, creator of heaven and earth. My faith and my hope is rooted in Your word. You kept every promise that you made to Abraham and to David and I have every assurance that you will keep Your promises to me. It is true that all men are liars but You are true and faithful and you will remain so throughout eternity. I thank You and I praise You for Your faithfulness.