Giving prayer

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to gather with family and friends and reflect on the blessings of the last year. Many of us experience renewed hope and faith during the Thanksgiving holiday because we turn our eyes onto what is most important. What if we spent time each day in giving thanks and prayer? How could God grow out faith and trust if we lived a life of thanks through all seasons and not just Thanksgiving time? When your heart is filled with gratitude, there is little room to worry or complain.

We would love to encourage and help you along the way toward greater hope and joy! Below are 9 thanksgiving prayers you can use not only for Thanksgiving day but throughout the year. Start living out the promises of God that Jesus came “that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10. 

Prayer 1: A Daily Thanksgiving Prayer

“Dear God, Thank you for your amazing power and work in our lives, thank you for your goodness and for your blessings over us. Thank you for your great love and care. Thank you for your sacrifice so that we might have freedom and life. Forgive us for when we don’t thank you enough, for who you are, for all that you do, for all that you’ve given. Help us to set our eyes and our hearts on you afresh. Renew our spirits, fill us with your peace and joy. We love you and we need you, this day and every day. We give you praise and thanks, for You alone are worthy! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
– Debbie McDaniel, Crosswalk.com Contributor

Prayer 2: A Prayer for a Thankful Heart

“Lord, teach me to offer you a heart of thanksgiving and praise in all my daily experiences of life. Teach me to be joyful always, to pray continually and to give thanks in all my circumstances. I accept them as Your will for my life (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). I long to bring pleasure to Your heart daily. Break the power of the enemy in my life. Defeat Him through my sacrifice of praise. Change my outlook and attitude into one of joyful contentment with my present circumstances. I thank You for…

Jesus, I want to be like You who obeyed the Father without complaint. You embraced the chains of humanity when You walked this earth. Convict me whenever I complain or compare myself with others. Give me Your attitude of humility and thankful acceptance. I want to be like the Apostle Paul who learned contentment in every circumstance. I choose to continually offer You a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that give praise to Your name (Hebrews 13:15). I long to bring a smile to Your face. Teach me the power of a thankful heart. I know that Your truth dwells in a thankful heart.

“I will give thanks to the LORD because of His righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens” (Psalm 7:17-18:1). In Jesus’ name, amen.”
– Debbie Przybylski, Intercessors Arise International

Prayer 3: A Short Prayer of Thanks

“God, sometimes life gets me down and I find it hard to see things to be thankful for. Open my eyes to see the gifts you’ve given me in my life. I’m going to start by thanking you for loving me enough to come to earth and die so we can live together forever. Amen.”
– Wendy van Eyck, Contributor

Prayer 4: A Prayer for Thanksgiving Day

Father God, today I thank You for the provisions of my life…
I thank You for the people in my life…
I thank You for the opportunities You have given to me in my life…
I thank You for the acceptance and forgiveness You have lavished upon me in spite of my sinful actions and choices…

I thank You for the healing You have brought into my life—physical and emotional… I thank You for the way You have brought me back from the darkness that
lurks in my soul and the choices I could have made that would have landed
me in a pit—or the choices I have made that did land me in a pit…
I thank You for the desires of my heart that You have satisfied with good things…

And the desires that I have not yet seen satisfied. Help me to be confident because of the grace You have given to me in so many others ways, that even my unmet desires would be something I could be grateful for…Amen.
Excerpted with permission from Day 31 of Prayers for Today (Moody Publishers, 2011) by Pastor Kurt Bjorklund.

Prayer 5: A Prayer to Teach Kids Thankfulness

“Lord, I pray that the message of Christ and his sacrifice is the root of gratitude in my heart. That His gracious gift leads me to thankful living, setting an example for my children. That they will have their own relationship with Jesus one day, and that You would grow gratitude in their hearts out of the acceptance of Jesus as their Savior. Lead us to do everything in the name of Jesus and give thanks to You through Him.”
– Marie Osborne, Contributor

Prayer 6: A Thanksgiving Day Prayer

“O Heavenly Father:
We thank Thee for food and remember the hungry.
We thank Thee for health and remember the sick.
We thank Thee for friends and remember the friendless.
We thank Thee for freedom and remember the enslaved.
May these remembrances stir us to service.
That Thy gifts to us may be used for others. Amen.”
– “Dear Abby” Columnist

Prayer 7: Thanksgiving Song (makes a wonderful prayer!)

“Grateful for each hand we hold
Gathered round this table.
From far and near we travel home,
Blessed that we are able.
Grateful for this sheltered place
With light in every window,
Saying welcome, welcome, share this feast
Come in away from sorrow.
Father, mother, daughter, son,
Neighbor, friend and friendless;
All together everyone in the gift of loving-kindness.
Grateful for whats understood,
And all that is forgiven;
We try so hard to be good,
To lead a life worth living.
Father, mother, daughter, son,
Neighbor, friend, and friendless;
All together everyone, let grateful days be endless.
Grateful for each hand we hold
Gathered round this table.”
– Mary Chapin Carpenter – Thanksgiving Song Lyrics 

Prayer 8: A Prayer of Thanks for Our Many Blessings

“Oh God, You are so good. You are faithful and gracious and You have blessed me beyond measure. Thank you for everyday blessings to which I have become accustomed, but never want to take for granted: clean drinking water, electricity, food in my pantry, hot showers, a roof over my head, and a bed to sleep in.

Thank you for legs that carry me where I need to go and hands that enable me to accomplish many things. Thank you for my hearing and my vision and for a sound, healthy mind.

Thank you my family, my friends, my job, my neighbors. Thank you for freedom to attend my church, for my pastors, and for my small group(s) and my many relationships.

Thank you for the things You are doing in my heart and in my life. I’m grateful that by the power of Your Holy Spirit, I am much different today than I was 10 years ago, or a year ago. I am even different that I was at the beginning of this year, and it’s because of Your power at work in me, continually transforming me into Your image.

I love and adore You, Lord, and my heart overflows with gratitude for all these blessings. In the precious name of Jesus, Amen.”
excerpt from 3 Grateful Prayers to Prepare Your Heart for Thanksgiving by Julie K. Gillies

Prayer 9: 17 Statements of Gratitude

“Thank you, God for the times You have said “no.” They have helped me depend on You so much more.
Thank you, God, for unanswered prayer. It reminds me that You know what’s best for me, even when my opinion differs from Yours.
Thank You, Lord, for the things you have withheld from me. You have protected me from what I may never realize.
Thank You, God, for the doors You have closed. They have prevented me from going where You would rather not have me go.
Thank you, Lord, for the physical pain You’ve allowed in my life. It has helped me more closely relate to Your sufferings on my behalf.
Thank you, Lord, for the alone times in my life. Those times have forced me to lean in closer to You.
Thank you, God, for the uncertainties I’ve experienced. They have deepened my trust in You.
Thank You, Lord, for the times You came through for me when I didn’t even know I needed a rescue.
Thank You, Lord, for the losses I have experienced. They have been a reminder that You are my greatest gain.
Thank You, God, for the tears I have shed. They have kept my heart soft and mold-able.
Thank You, God, for the times I haven’t been able to control my circumstances. They have reminded me that You are sovereign and on the throne.
Thank You, God, for those people in my life whom You have called home to be with You. Their absence from this earth keeps my heart longing for heaven.
Thank You, God, that I have an inheritance in the heavenly places…something that this world can never steal from me and I could never selfishly squander.
Thank You, God, for the greatest gift You could ever give me: forgiveness through Your perfect Son’s death on the cross on my behalf.
Thank You, God, for the righteousness You credited toward me, through the death and resurrection of Jesus. It’s a righteousness I could never earn or attain on my own.
Thank You, Father, that You know me, You hear me, and You see my tears. Remind me through difficult times that You are God, You are on the throne, and You are eternally good.
And thank You, Lord, not only for my eternal salvation, but for the salvation You afford every day of my life as You save me from myself, my foolishness, my own limited insights, and my frailties in light of Your power and strength.”
– Cindy McMenamin, Author

Thanksgiving Prayers from Scripture:

Psalm 95 – “Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods…”
Psalm 100 – “Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”
Psalm 118:29 – “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
Psalm 103: 1-5 – “Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
Psalm 136:1-5 – “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever. to him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever. who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever. who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever. “

Read more Bible Verses for Thanksgiving at BibleStudyTools.com

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This article is part of our larger Prayers resource meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Visit our most popular prayers if you are wondering how to pray or what to pray. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and God knows your heart even if you can’t find the words to pray.

Prayer for Healing

Prayer for StrengthPrayer for ProtectionMorning PrayersGood Night PrayersThe Prayer of JabezShort PrayersThe Lord’s PrayerSerenity PrayerA Birthday PrayerPrayer for ForgivenessIntercessory PrayerIrish Prayers and BlessingsAdvent PrayersChristmas PrayersThanksgiving PrayerEaster Prayers  

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by Latoya (South Africa)

Heavenly Father, I want to thank you for each and everyone’s prayer calls on this website here today. Father stretch your hand to heal the broken hearts and those who are lost in the suffering carried by they everyday lives. bring justice upon their lives and bring light to their salvation. set them free from the spirit that binds them set them free from what has them captive from seeing their happiness. The lord is mighty and gracious with immeasurable power to remove, heal, restore and to change situations for each and everyone here praying – we thank you heavenly father for your grace upon each of our lives.

in Jesus Christ name!
Amen

Return to 7 Daily Prayers to Get You Through The Week

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Merciful Savior, we bow down before your throne to magnify and worship you. We honor your beautiful majesty. We exalt you, Oh Lord. All the world will praise your great name.

We come before you, Adonai our God, asking anything, but to give you thanks for all you’ve done and are going to do in our unworthy lives.

1 Chronicles 16:34 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

The Grace of God

Thank you for your grace. Thank you for shedding your cleansing blood upon that old rugged cross, to save us while we were yet sinners.

We don’t deserve you, Lord, this we are fully aware of. But if you hadn’t, we would not stand a chance in approaching your throne. We would not have the opportunity to lay down our burdens, fears, pains and suffering. Thank you Jesus! Hallelujah!

1 Corinthians 1:4-5 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ. That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge.

Giving Thanks for Peace

Oh Lord, thank you for the peace that passes all understanding, so we can be calm in the midst of our storms.

Thank you for daily protection. Thank you for bringing purpose and new meaning into our lives.

Serving you, Lord is never a task but a fulfillment, it feels so good to serve you our master for without you we are nothing.

Thank you Oh God, for daily protection. Click To Tweet

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Giving Thanks for Abundant Blessings

Thank you for your abundant blessings. Our family, our friends, our jobs, our homes, food on the table and so much more. For you said you shall supply all our needs and you clearly have. None can compare!

Thank you for every trial, Lord, for it only makes us stronger, and shapes us into who you want us to be. Lord, we give you all the thanks and the glory for we know we do not deserve anything but you give us everything. In Jesus name, Amen!

Read also:

• PRAYER: Giving Thanks to the Lord, with a Grateful Heart and 
• The ultimate uplifting Prayer of Thanksgiving

Thank you Lord for your abundant blessings; you said you shall supply all our needs and you have. Click To Tweet

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

2 Corinthians 9:11-12  Being enriched in everything to all bountifulness, which causes through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplies the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;

I’m a young Christian, from South Trinidad, seeking the wisdom of the Word and God’s blessings on my life. A journey, that’s just begun, but living to the Glory of God.

christianstt.com

Life Giving Prayer 1John 5:13-17

Last week we talked about the power of faith. This is the victory that overcomes the world ¡V our faith. Faith and prayer go hand in hand. We trust God to hear and answer our prayer. Prayer demonstrates our dependence on God.

Another one of the marvelous marks of the new birth is an inside track with the God of the universe. We have a most magnificent promise regarding answered prayer. John repeats this basically identical promise 9 times in his writings. This particular promise has to do with our prayers on behalf of a ¡§sinning brother.¡¨

What does the Bible say we should do when we see a loved one committing an obvious sin?

Like many life dilemmas, there are a number of equally Biblical options.

NOTE: Anyone who wants a copy of the Sunday School notes on prayer can pick up one from the office.

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. 1 John 5:13-15

The true child of God has the assurance of God¡¦s ear. This is the confidence that ¡§He hears us!¡¨

Not only does He hear us but He promises to grant our request. These are all present tense verbs indicating a continuous state of asking and hearing. Keep on asking. Keep on knocking.

PERSPECTIVE ON PRAYER

Prayer was never intended to be viewed as a parachute to be opened only in case of emergency. Neither is prayer a criminal cringing before an unmerciful judge. Prayer is a dependent child conversing with his loving Father expressing his admiration and gratefulness and explaining his present need for help for himself, his family and friends. Put simply, prayer is continual communication between a needy creature and a loving Creator who is our Heavenly Father.

Our moments in prayer should never become an obligation or duty that we dread to do. We need to be careful that pray does not become a meaningless ritual. Jesus said that meaningless repetition does not impress God or bring results. Rather, we should view prayer as a privilege that we desire to do because of the goodness of our God and the greatness of our need. At times, we desire to pray long and hard because the heaviness of our heart requires that we linger longer to share our deepest hurts seeking His dynamic help. We pray longer because we want to pray longer, not because someone has proclaimed that long prayers are more effective or more spiritual. It should be as natural and invigorating to communicate with God as it was to communicate with our spouse in the early days of our courtship. Can you remember back that far? For some, it is a fresh experience easily remembered. Prayer is not like a forced daily one hour conversation with the principal or boss that we would much rather avoid.

It is a treasured moment with a beloved friend or partner who has demonstrated unconditional acceptance and has promised to share all of themselves and their resources to accomplish mutual goals. The greater the personal need, the longer the desire to talk. The deeper and more secure the friendship, the greater the willingness to share our deepest self. Corporate prayer is a group of people talking to a mutual admired friend who has the resources to address our deepest need. We gather to express our deepest gratitude for His friendship and past help as well as our desire for His continued friendship and help. Does your prayer life reflect that kind of relationship?

Filled with language foreign to your normal conversation.

Filled with meaningless repetition of old phrases and words.

More like ritual rather than conversation.

JESUS¡¦ PRAYER LIFE

Prayer was an integral part of the life of Jesus because relationship with His father was at the center of His life. Although all the recorded prayers of Jesus could be recited in 10 minutes, the Biblical record indicates it permeated His ENTIRE life.

HE PRAYED BEFORE DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TASKS

* The raising of Lazarus John 11:41-42

* The Garden of Gethsemane Lk 22; Matt 26; Jn 18

* The choosing of the disciples Lk 6:12

HE PRAYED DURING DIFFICULT TIMES

The first and last words on the cross were prayers. Forty strenuous days of temptation was thoroughly resisted with prayer and fasting.

HE PRAYED AFTER A DIFFICULT AND TRYING DAY

And after bidding the crowd farewell, He departed to the mountain to pray. Mk 6:46

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