Thanksgiving Prayer

Thanking God should be a part of every prayer as we plead for revival. 

Praise the LORD!
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!
— Psalm 106:1           

The Lord teaches us to have a thankful heart throughout the Scriptures, and there are many excellent reasons why. Thankfulness towards God is right, for He has given us all things and is worthy of all our praise. Maintaining an attitude of gratitude is also good for us because it keeps our thoughts fixed on eternal and unseen things. Faith, joy, and peace are upheld by thankfulness. On the other hand, when we lack gratitude, our whole outlook is ruined, our relationship with the Lord suffers, and our ability to love others is stifled. 

2020 could easily become a year of complaining instead of thanksgiving. If you’re struggling to be thankful at this time, I encourage you to take time to write out a list of things you can thank God for this year. Remembering the Pilgrims example at the first thanksgiving should also help a lot. They nearly didn’t survive their first year in the new world. Despite great sickness, the death of loved ones, and a bleak prospect of hope for the future, they set aside three days to thank God. 

No matter what may happen to us, we can and should “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) because of what God has done for us in Christ Jesus, our Lord. 

All praise to You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! Help us to always maintain a thankful heart even while we grieve the spiritual condition of our land. We ask You to revive us again by a mighty move of Your Spirit, and every day we will praise You for Your amazing grace to us already. We bless Your holy name! Amen

Yours in Christ,
Chuck Hetzler, Ph.D.
Director, Christian Union Day and Night