Greatness, power, splendor, glory, and majesty are yours, Lord, because everything in heaven and on earth is yours. The kingdom is yours, Lord, and you are honored as head of all things. (1 Chronicles 29:11 GW)
Today I invite you to make a list of things you are thankful for. The following mixes my personal list with that of others in my community.
Thank you, God, that as the days grow shorter and darker, we have physical electricity and spiritual Light to brighten the days.
Thank you, God, for the daily gifts we have, and for the wonderful things of life – families, friends, beauty, art, nature, and so much more.
Thank you, God, for the purposes and callings you have given to us as we follow your Son.
Thank you, God, for the Holy Spirit’s witness within and through us.
Thank you, God, for the resolutions of places of great tension – the end of the Israel-Hamas conflict and the return of the hostages, and the end of the government shutdown, among others.
Thank you, God, for providing for widows, orphans, and the lonely.
Thank you, God, that there were no murders in our city in October and for incredibly low violent crime rates for the year.
Thank you, God, for exposing wickedness, betrayal, and deceit in all aspects of our society.
Thank you, God, for calling your children to deeper faith, pure righteousness, and a future with hope.
Today, we pray you will continue to perfect your children and your Church so that we can be the full Light you need us to be in this darkening world. We pray you will continue to root out places where evil has reigned and replace ungodly leaders with men and women after your own heart. Help us to trust you, do good, and dwell in this land with dignity, honor, peace, grace, and love. Help us to praise, worship, and sing of you, and to make known your faithfulness to all generations. We pray your angel armies will protect, guard, and guide all who know you as Lord and Savior, and we ask this in Jesus’s name, AMEN.
Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:3-4 NIV)
I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. (Psalm 89:1 NIV)