Our Heavenly Father,
Our Savior, Our Sustainer,
Lord of Love
As we come here together, gathered mindfully as one body
We offer thanks
We offer thanks for Your mercy that is always everlasting,
even in our unrighteous state, as our acts are like dirty rags to You,
without Your Holy Son
even in our temptation to succumb to familiarity, as we hear Your story each season
even in our worldly state, as we often falter and idolize earthly things
even in our arrogant resistance, as we outwardly deny our sins
We offer thanks because you have saved us from the depths of our sins,
so we humbly come to You
For we were once unrighteous in Your eyes,
but now we are Yours,
redeemed through the blood of Your Son
We offer thanks for Your protection,
for giving us life when we do not deserve another breath,
for upholding us with Your righteous right hand when we need strength,
for providing us refuge when we are in times of trouble
We offer thanks for Your sustenance,
that You will sustain us in times of need,
both physically and spiritually, for we need both to live well
We offer thanks that you have invited us to take Your body and Your blood with You
that we may understand real community,
that we may be reminded that You are still here with us,
that we may see Your provision for us,
both physically and spiritually, for we need both to live well
that we may grasp Your ultimate sacrifice
We ask that you give us our daily bread,
though we do not deserve it,
we know that You will provide
May we see those in need, the least of these, as our brothers and sisters
and when they are hungry, give them food to eat
and when they are thirsty, give them water to drink
and when they are without clothes, give them clothing to wear
and when they are sick or in prison, go and visit them
To remember whatever we do for our brethren,
we do for You
We offer thanks for the creation You have provided—
the land from which the food for our bodies springs forth
We offer thanks for those who plant the crops and cultivate this land,
so that we may be filled
Humbly, we ask for forgiveness in our weakness,
our bitterness
our transgressions
our anger
our lawlessness
May we see that though our sins are like scarlet,
You have made them white as snow
You have lifted us up in times of struggle and hardship
And though we stumble in the presence of the evil one,
You chose to rescue us
We ask for the forgiveness of us all,
as one body
For we are brethren, one with another
United by the Great Comforter
Who dwells within us
Help us to forgive others,
and ourselves
We ask for their salvation
We thank You for ours
Most of all, we ask that You teach us to love,
not in a way that is watered-down,
or in the way in which we “love” earthly things
but in the way that Jesus loves:
Agape
With humility of spirit, may we love
You
our neighbors,
and ourselves
May we love concerned with what to give,
rather than what to gain
May we learn to live out the radical, self-sacrificing love
that You did, and You do
May our scarcity turn into abundance,
and may we love with our whole hearts
May we put this love into action
so that Your love may spread
May we share Your love with abundance
so that all may see You through us
Amen.
ABOUT ERIN FRANKLIN
Erin Franklin is a marketing specialist on the Lifeway Women team. A graduate of Lipscomb University and a lifelong Tennessean, she enjoys a good ping-pong match, photography, and learning new things. She has written for several Lifeway Women Bible studies, including: The Wonder of Advent, Joy to the World, Devoted, and Grateful. You can connect with her on Instagram: @erin_franklin.
Read seven prompts for your own prayers of thanksgiving.
