5 Prayers that will Bless Your Thanksgiving

11 / 21 / 1911 / 21 / 19

5 verses to pray and bless your Thanksgiving celebration with your family and friends. Gratitude is good for you & is an important part of giving God glory! #Thanksgiving #Prayer #Holidays #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings

I’m jumping into the holidays this weekend … prepping the kitchen for Thanksgiving and decorating for Christmas.

I know I may be breaking some kind of unwritten code by putting up my Christmas tree before Thanksgiving but the gratitude holiday is so late this year, I just can’t wait any longer.

Even with all planning, preparing, and doing … all the anticipation of the food and festivities, I don’t want to lose track of the reason we celebrate Thanksgiving.

It’s so easy for us to get so focused on the food and the fellowship, we forget the why of the celebration.

The Story Behind Thanksgiving

In November 1621, after the Pilgrims’ first corn harvest proved successful, Governor William Bradford organized a celebratory feast and invited a group of the fledgling colony’s Native American allies, including the Wampanoag chief Massasoit. Now remembered as American’s “first Thanksgiving”—although the Pilgrims themselves may not have used the term at the time—the festival lasted for three days.

In 1789 George Washington issued the first Thanksgiving proclamation by the national government of the United States; in it, he called upon Americans to express their gratitude for the happy conclusion to the country’s war of independence and the successful ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

In 1863, at the height of the Civil War, in a proclamation entreating all Americans to ask God to “commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife” and to “heal the wounds of the nation.” He scheduled Thanksgiving for the final Thursday in November
History.com

But why?

Why is giving thanks important?

And maybe the more important question is…

Who is it we are supposed to be thanking?

Because generalized gratitude that simply goes out into the atmosphere seems rather pointless.

The Psalmist wrote…

Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are His.
Psalm 100:3

You and I are created by God. We belong to Him … made for His glory. And gratitude is an important part of giving God glory!

Today, I’m sharing verses to pray with your family this Thanksgiving. I pray they bless you…

5 Prayers that will Bless Your Thanksgiving

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever.
Psalm 107:1

Father, simply saying thank you seems like it falls short of the gratitude I want to offer You. You have graciously poured countless blessings into my life over the past year. And You have mercifully protected me in ways I’ve seen and I’m sure in immeasurable ways I haven’t. You have given me hope and courage when I’ve needed it most. Your love covers every area of my life! Thank you!

Thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:57

Father, Your greatest gift is forgiveness through Jesus. Through Him, You have removed my sin and redeemed me from its eternal consequences.

Jesus, Thank you for living the perfect life I am unable to live, for suffering the punishment I deserve, and for the forever victory I have by trusting You and applying Your promises.

Spirit, Thank you for coming into my heart and giving me faith. Thank you for making it possible for me to love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. On my own I can’t, I won’t … but with Your help, I do!

Thanks and praise forever!

I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.
Ephesians 1:16–17

Father, thank you for the people in my life. Those around my table and those who could not be here. Please be with us all. Give us wisdom, insight, and strength that we might glorify You with our lives. May we continue to hold each other up. May we encourage each other with Your love. May we be quick to forgive as You have forgiven us. And may we grow closer to You and to one another every day.

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

Father, this feels hard sometimes! Please help me see who You are in my life … as long as I have Jesus, I have everything I need. Your Word says that You will provide for the needs of those who SEEK You above all else. May I faithfully know and follow Your will for me. May I be filled with thanks knowing that whatever is going on my life, You will give me everything to endure through Your all-sufficient grace.

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

Father, may my life glorify You. May everyone I meet know I love You. May I live each day as a sacrifice of gratitude for who You are and all You do. Thank you for my home, my family and friends. Thank you for food and clothing. Thank you for work and for the time to rest from work. Thank you for love and laughter, and music, and hope and the ways You fill my life with good things.

Thank you! May all I do be by Your grace and for Your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Praying your Thanksgiving is abundantly blessed!

This Week’s Friday Favorites

Highlight Posts of the Week!

How to Embrace Gratitude
in the Midst of the Unexpected

by Maree Dee
@ Embracing Life in the Midst of the Unexpected

5 Ways to Find Peace in a Busy Season

by and @ Rebecca Hastings

AND the…

Faith ‘n Friends Link Party

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I’m so glad you’re here!

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5 Prayers that Thank God for the Gift of Life

9 / 19 / 199 / 19 / 19

We've been counting Bonus Days for 12 years when a life-changing event made us realize that every day is a gift of life and a reason to rejoice. #BonusDays #GiftofLife #Miracles #CountingMyBlessings #Livewithhope

September 20th, 2019 is Bonus Day 4,383.

How do I know? Because Rev writes the number on his calendar every single morning.

It is sometimes hard to believe it’s been 12 years since the miracle – since Bonus Day #1.

I have so many memories imprinted on my heart and mind … moments from days, weeks, and yes, months all leading up to September 20, 2007.

To name a few. There were:

Symptoms that looked like heart failure which continued to get worse all without a diagnosis or explanation.
Trips to doctors for tests and procedures we hoped would lead to cures and answers.
The times they had to drain liters of fluid off his lungs.
And family and friends who covered us in prayer as we waited for God’s peace and healing.

Finally, after almost a year … we learned that something called a Pericardial Stripping was the only way, short of a miracle, to save Rev’s life. However, it’s a surgery that most cardiac surgeons don’t want to do and one they were doubtful Rev’s body was strong enough to survive at the time. If you would like to read more of the story, you can find it here and here.

Most families celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays.

In the Bible, God told His children to celebrate festivals. Days they were to rejoice and remember His deliverance and protection. His miraculous grace and mercy.

Days of praise and prayers.

So, today … I’m going to God with a festival of praise and I’d love for you to join me.

You may not have a specific life and death situation where you saw God’s miraculous intervention … but through Jesus, we have God’s divine protection in the greatest life and death situation of all. We have been offered an endless supply of Bonus Days and more reasons to thank and praise God than we can count. We have been forgiven and set free to celebrate forever … one day at a time.

So, let’s pray and thank God for the gift of life … today!

5 Prayers that Thank God for the Gift of Life

You saw me before I was born.
    Every day of my life was recorded in Your book.
Every moment was laid out
    before a single day had passed.
How precious are Your thoughts about me, O God.
    They cannot be numbered!
Psalm 139:16–17

Father, how do I begin to thank you the way I should for the gift of life. Your Word says You knew me before I was born. You knew the plans You had for me and prepared a path for me long ago.

When I think of Your grace and mercy, the people You have brought into my life, the opportunities You’ve placed before me, the ways You pursued me with Your love … it fills me with humble gratitude and overwhelming awe. Thank you!

I am so thankful for the gift of every Bonus Day! There are no promised days in this life … so every one is a gift, a day to celebrate and serve. Please help me. Fill me Your Spirit and help me trust, follow, and obey Your will for me today.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
    His faithful love endures forever.
This is the Lord’s doing,
    and it is wonderful to see.
This is the day the Lord has made.
    We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:1,23–24

Lord, You are so good! Your love is evident in the beauty of the world You created. It is realized in the gift of Jesus. And it is known in our hearts through the power of Your Spirit.

This day, today, is a gift from You! A Bonus Day to thank, praise, and serve You. A festival, a day to celebrate and rejoice in the simple gift of life. Whatever the day brings, may I live for Your glory. Thank you!

Let all that I am praise the Lord;
with my whole heart,
I will praise His holy name.
Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things
He does for me.
Psalm 103:1–2

Father, I want to praise You with all I am. I love this reminder to never forget all the good things You have done for me … to remember to count my blessings.

It can be so easy to allow everything from little annoyances to big problems distract me from the countless good You pour into my life. Please forgive me.

Thank you for Your grace and mercy, for Your peace and protection, for the gift of family and friends, for hope and happiness, for love and forgiveness. Thank you for Jesus! Thank you for Bonus Days!

But then I recall all You have done, O Lord;
I remember Your wonderful deeds of long ago.
They are constantly in my thoughts.
I cannot stop thinking about
Your mighty works.
Psalm 77:11–12

Father, thank you for the gift of Your Word. I love reading about all You have done from creation to the promise of Jesus and a future forever in Your presence.

Thank you for the gift of faith and the ways You work in my heart and mind to draw me closer to You and to the knowledge of the Truth.

Thank you for giving us days to celebrate! Days like birthdays and anniversaries … days of deliverance and protection.

Please give me eyes to see Your hand at work around me each day and a heart of thanks and praise for Your loving presence in my life.

Praise the Lord!
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
Who can list the glorious miracles of the Lord?
Who can ever praise Him enough?
Psalm 106:1–2

Lord, I thank you! You have been so good to me! You have shown me Your faithful forever love over and over again! Your miracles surround me. Please give me … eyes to see, a heart full of gratitude, and an attitude of praise!

This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad! Amen.

Friend, I pray you have many reasons to celebrate God’s gift of life today!

It’s so easy for us to get caught up in the routines and busyness of life that we forget today is not just another day … it’s a blessing to celebrate. It’s a reason to rejoice.

It’s a gift. It’s a miracle.

It’s a Bonus Day!

This Week’s Friday Favorites

Highlight Posts of the Week!

5 Ways to Find Quiet in a Noisy World

by and @ Rebecca Hastings

How to Trust God When You Feel Betrayed by Him

by and @ April Knapp

AND the…

Faith ‘n Friends Link Party

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I’m so glad you’re here!

This is a place to share faith, make friends, and have fun.

I’d love to connect with you on social media!

I'm finding #Friendship and #Inspiration at #Faith 'n Friends #LinkUp Come join the fun!

Deb Wolf
Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

No More Rules Link Party

Add 1-2 of your favorite faith/life posts.
Then just make friends and have fun.
You know they love it when you stop by and say “hello.”

I would really appreciate it if you would
Grab my Link Party Button above and link back to CMB.

Thank you so much for partying with us!
May your week be blessed with faith, love, and friendship!

Don’t forget to leave your prayer requests…

and pray over the list left by our friends.

I always enjoy hearing from you! Please take a minute to say ‘hi’ and share your thoughts in the comments below.

And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone? Maybe a friend, family member, coworker, or through the links below…

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Thank you and God bless!

7 Verses that will Help You Pray with a Grateful Heart

11 / 8 / 1811 / 9 / 18

Meister Eckhardt, a German theologian from the 13th Century once said,

“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.”

If you’re like me, your thank you prayers are less frequent than your “please fix, heal, help, and provide, etc.” prayers.

It’s so easy to set aside all God has done in the past when I’m facing the needs in front of me.

But thank God, His future love, grace, mercy, and care do not depend on my gratitude for His past love, grace, mercy, and care.

Today…

I want to take Meister Eckhardt’s words to heart and simply say, “thank you” with a grateful heart!

And I thought you might want to do some grateful heart praying with me.

7 Verses that will Help You Pray with a Grateful Heart

1 Corinthians 15:56–57

For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Father, thank you for Jesus! Thank you for the victory I have in Him. His death and resurrection defeated sin, death, and Satan. They have no power of me. They have NO power over me. I am forgiven. I am Yours. I have a hope and a future. I have life full and abundant. I have so many reasons to live today with a grateful heart! Thank you!

1 Thessalonians 5:18

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

Father, thank you for the gift of Your Spirit who guides me to know Your will and gives me the courage and strength I need to be thankful in all circumstances. Honestly, it seems impossible to be thankful in the middle of the struggle but Your Word says that with You, everything is possible … even a grateful heart in trying times. And even when it’s impossible to be thankful for the circumstances Your Spirit gives me all I need to be thankful for the courage and strength that will see me through. Thank you!

Psalm 95:1–3

Come, let us sing to the Lord!
    Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come to Him with thanksgiving.
    Let us sing psalms of praise to him.
For the Lord is a great God,
    a great King above all gods.

Father God, You are King of kings and Lord of lords. You are my Creator, my Redeemer, and my Advocate. You hear my prayers and praises. Please Lord, by the power of Your Spirit, help me keep my focus on You … on your grace and mercy. You are love. You are all I need! Thank you, Father.

James 1:17

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

Father, as You created this world, You declared it good! You made people in Your image and declared them very good and even when we made a mess of Your world and our lives, You stayed the same. You loved us and sent Jesus as the best gift of all.

Thank you for Your unchanging promises that give me hope and for Your Spirit who gives me all I need to live with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Thank you for Your unchanging grace, mercy, and constant love.

Colossians 4:2

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

Father, by Your grace, prompt me to pray with thanksgiving. May I be devoted to spending time with You in prayer. The desire of my heart is to be faithfully mindful of Your perfect presence and remember that in all circumstances I can turn to You with the praises and the pleas of a surrendered heart.

Psalm 28:7

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.

Father, I trust You! What an amazing blessing! I believe Your grace is sufficient in all circumstances. Because of the ways You have worked in my life … I know You will give me courage and strength when I need it! What joy to realize that You are always with me giving me everything I need to live one day at a time. Thank you!

Romans 11:36

For everything comes from Him and exists by His power and is intended for His glory. All glory to Him forever! Amen.

Father, You are King of kings and Lord of lords. Everything I have comes from Your hand. The world and all that is in it exist by Your power and all creation of proclaims Your glory. May I join in the song of praise that will last eternally, for You alone are worthy and from a grateful heart, I give You my thanks!

As I’ve written these prayers, I’ve realized that I want to make thanking and praising God for who He is a regular part of my prayer life. Although, I may remember to thank Him for what He does … who He is, changes every part of my life.

God is Creator. – Genesis 1:1, 1 Corinthians 8:6, Revelation 4:11.
God is Redeemer – Job 19:25, Psalm 19:14, Psalm, 103:4, Luke 1:68
God is Advocate/Helper – John 14:26, John 15:26, 1 John 2:1

He is Provider:

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

Just because He loves.

And that’s reason enough to pray without ceasing with a grateful heart!

This Week’s Friday Favorites

Highlights from the Week!

How to Improve Your Legacy

by Alyson
@ Write Them on My Heart

Are You a Chocolate Soldier?

by Jen Avellaneda
@ Rich Faith Rising

My Story of Depression and Hope

by April Knapp
@ Experiencing Extraordinary Truth
in the Grind of the Ordinary

AND the…

Faith ‘n Friends Link Party

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I’m so glad you’re here!

This is a place to share faith, make friends, and have fun.

I’d love to connect with you on social media!

[Tweet “I’m finding #Friendship and #Inspiration at #Faith ‘n Friends #LinkUp Come join the fun! “]

Deb Wolf
Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

No More Rules Link Party

Add 1-2 of your favorite faith/life posts.
Then just make friends and have fun.
You know they love it when you stop by and say “hello.”

I would really appreciate it if you would
Grab my Link Party Button above and link back to CMB.

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Thank you so much for partying with us!
May your week be blessed with faith, love, and friendship!

Don’t forget to leave your prayer requests…

and pray over the list left by our friends.

I always enjoy hearing from you! Please take a minute to say ‘hi’ and share your thoughts in the comments below.

And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone? Maybe a friend, family member, coworker, or through the links below…