“Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Eph. 5:19-20
(Friends, gratitude is a most powerful means of gaining and maintaining heart-peace and freedom. By gratitude, self-pity is sabotaged and fears shrink. Gratitude is a discipline before it’s a delight, so let’s get a jumpstart of Thanksgiving with this prayer.)
Heavenly Father, thank you for only commanding things that deepen our knowledge of you, joy in you, and love for you. The command to keep the music of the Gospel alive in our hearts is a perfect example. We have so much for which to be grateful.
For starters, thank you for granting us 100% forgiveness, robing us in Jesus’ righteousness, and for hiding our lives in Christ. Nothing can separate us from your love or diminish your delight in us. How can we possibly put a value on these things? Thank you for sovereignly ruling over everything, and for working in all things for our good. We don’t always like your timing or understand your ways, but your faithfulness and goodness are without question.
And there’s so much more. Thank you for non-posing friends, sourdough bread, Romans 8, the color blue, and laughter that generates tears and snorts. Thank you for sunsets and moon rises, the music of the 60’s and 70’s (or whatever you guys like), unrushed conversations and almond butter balls.
Thank you that Alzheimer’s and cancer, war and addiction, prodigal wandering and family stressors don’t get the last word—you do. Because the Gospel is true, we can vex less and repent quicker. Because you are with us, we can fear less and trust more. Father, thank you for the near Day of wiped tears and redeemed sorrows, no more sin anywhere and your glory everywhere. So Very Amen.