A Prayer of Thanksgiving

Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Instead of reading that verse and focusing on not being anxious and worried when we pray with thanksgiving, let’s zero in on the “thanksgiving to God” part all by itself, leaving all petitions and requests behind for a time.  After all, He tells us in Psalm 100:4 to be thankful and say so to Him.  In reading the following prayer of thanksgiving aloud, you will find anxieties dropping off your radar screen as you refocus on our wonderful Lord and His promises for you.  Blessings to you, my praying friends.

My Dear Heavenly Father,

I want to thank You for so many things today that I hardly know where to start.  A very logical place to begin is thanking You that I can approach you at all – through Jesus Christ my Lord.  As if that isn’t enough, I can approach you with boldness and confidence because you see righteousness when you see me!  Thank You, Jesus, for becoming Righteousness for me.

Lord, I can do nothing but declare your goodness and your praises no matter who I am around, in hopes that those who hear will receive Your help in the midst of their need, as you have always helped me.  Your love is amazing and beyond comprehension with my natural mind, yet You continue to reveal more of it to me everywhere I turn.  What a Perfect Father You are.

It is so comforting to know that there is nothing I can do or go through that can ever separate me from Your completely unconditional love for me!  You love me so much that you sent Jesus to earth to show me real life, and then let Him die for me so I could live that real life forever – free from sin and condemnation!  Thank You!  When He returned victoriously to heaven after defeating our enemy, You sent Holy Spirit so I would not only be comforted, but would be filled with Your Power to live as Your witness everywhere I go.  You have truly provided for my every need!

When I think about Your handiwork in creating the heavens with all the stars and planets and galaxies – how You placed them in exactly the right order and location so everything would work just so – I am in awe that You even created me – so small in comparison to these huge things, but even more precious in Your sight!  Oh, the depth of the riches of Your wisdom and knowledge, God!  How unfathomable are Your ways – yet You invite me to know You more intimately so I can understand and live in the amazing ways of Your love!

I thank You even for all my earthly possessions, Daddy.  Because of Your promise never to leave or forsake me, I have no need to be greedy for more.  After all, since I have You, I lack no good thing now or ever, because You are with me to the very end of the age!  You never lie, Lord, so I can believe every promise in Your Word, even when things in my life look totally contrary to them.  Thank You for Your peace, Lord, at all times.  Nothing takes You by surprise, so if I will trust You with all my heart and not on my own understanding, acknowledging You in all my ways, You lead me in the right paths for me where nothing but goodness and love follow me.

How can I end this letter of thanksgiving to You, Father?  The more I thank You, the more I think of for which I am so grateful.  Thank You even for a heart of thanksgiving, Lord, with which to praise and thank You all the days of my life.  Glory to You, Father God, in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord!  Amen!

Scripture References: Ephesians 3:12, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Corinthians 1:30, Psalm 109:30-31, Psalm 36:5, 7a, Ephesians 3:19, Hebrews 12:10, Romans 8:35, John 3:16-17, 1 Corinthians 15:54-57, John 15:26, Acts 1:7, Philippians 4:19, Psalm 8:3,4, Jeremiah 1:5, Isaiah 43:4, Romans 11:33, Ephesians 1:17, Hebrews 13:5, Psalm 34:10, Psalm 84:11, Matthew 28:20, Numbers 23:19, John 14:27, Proverbs 2:5 (AMP), Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalm 23:6

© Copyright 2009  Kay V. Stocking