Prayer of thanksgiving for friends

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

Image courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com

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.

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Prayer for family and friends is one of the best gifts you can present to your loved ones. God has called us not only to pray for ourselves but for people around us too, particularly our friends and family. Romans 12:10 says, “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” One thing is certain about prayer, that it is never done in waste. Thanksgiving for loved ones is always effective. God will answer all prayer points at the time we will need this answer the most.

Prayer for family and friends should be included in our daily prayer time. Every time we pray for ourselves, let us remember every member of our family as well as our friends out there.

Prayer for Family and Friends

O Lord my God, I entrust all my loved ones in your care and I pray you protect and guide them daily. Meet them O lord, at every point of their need and fulfill all their heart desires. Be there keeper and grant them the opportunity to enjoy good health all the days of their lives.

My Lord and my God, keep my family and friends safe. Keep them far away from oppression. I will not receive any bad report concerning any of them. They will not die an untimely death and they shall all live to reap the fruits of their labor.

O Lord, touch the hearts of (…….., you can call the names), that is yet to receive you into their lives. Touch their hearts that they may accept that you alone is the true Savior. Touch them that they may enjoy the joy of salvation in Jesus mighty Name. Amen.

Thanksgiving Prayer for Loved  Ones

O Lord my God, I thank you for the loving people you have surrounded me with. I thank you for helping them to overcome trials and tribulations and thank you for being their source of joy. Lord, I thank you for keeping them alive and strengthening them. I thank for blessing them with all the good gifts of life. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Why do we pray for the family?

The family is the primary place where every individual starts his or her life.  The family is the immediate environment where we primarily received love and first life lessons.  If a family is bad, individuals of such home turn out badly. Praying for our family is essential for members to enjoy peace that strengthens the family bond.

Why do we pray for the friends and loved ones?

No man is an island. We all need someone to lean on at one time or the other. Just as the family is important, so also are our friends. Although, so many people have got themselves entangled with bad friends, but there are still many people out there who are better friends. The Bible says in Proverbs 17:17, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity”.

Importance of Prayer for Family and Friends, Loved Ones

The most valuable thing we can do for people around us is to pray for them. It is important we do this because the Bible tells us to do so. Devoting yourself in brotherly love is not all about sending gifts only; you also show love when you pray with and for friends and family. Never forget to say thanksgiving prayer for loved ones, for everything God has done to them.

The way our prayers for friends and family is not as important as making it essential to pray for them. It is important we pray for our loved ones because when it is good for them, we also become a beneficiary of the goodness and when things goes wrong with them, we are directly or indirectly affected.

Take for instance; having a family member or friend in the hospital will require your presence which also means your time. And when you find it difficult to be with such a person at the hospital bed, your mind will always be with them. This is to show that, we are directly or indirectly affected by whatever goes wrong with our family and friends.

The health of our family members and friends, having great abundance, divine protection, long life and many more is the responsibility of God, but it is our duty to also present them to God particularly concerning friends and families that are yet to accept Jesus into their lives.

We pray for our friends and family to acknowledge God as being responsible for their soul. There are times when we hide under the excuse that we do not have money to help our families and friends in need. The money isn’t all that matters. Prayer to God is.

Also read: PRAYER FOR FAMILY – bring the needs of your loved ones to God

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A Thanksgiving day cannot be celebrated without a proper Thanksgiving prayer. It is that day where all the near and dear family members along with close friends plan for a get together to celebrate this day of gratitude. Americans mainly celebrate this day by remembering all those hardships that they had to face in the past and therefore, call for celebration in order to shower gratitude on one another. A lot of emotions and feelings are expressed on this day through prayers, poems, drawings and many more mediums.

Check out our collection of Top 15+ Images for Friendship Thanksgiving Prayers below.

For getting an effective Thanksgiving prayer, one must consider few questions, and they are:

• What have been the major incidents or events that occurred last year in your family?
• Did your family witness growth in number, possibly through births or marriages?
• Did you and your family go through hard times? If yes, then you must consider all the lessons that have been learned from such difficult circumstances.
• Who are all there in your family? Mention each of their quality for which you are thankful to them.

One of the best ideas for Thanksgiving prayer is to consider the old hymns as many of them articulate deep sentiments. One can let those emotions and sentiments become their prayers. ‘Thanks to God’ is one of the songs from the hymns which are commonly performed on a thanksgiving day.

All the hardships of life that one has experienced in their past years must be remembered so as to let out your sentiments which can yield you an effective thanksgiving prayer. In addition to this, those difficult times should be thanked as they have provided you with great life lessons which has only improved you as a person.

Each one of the member needs special token of gratitude with their best quality that makes them admirable. Following this, one must also point out a negative thing about a person on which he/she can improve.

In this way a thanksgiving day needs to be celebrated with allotted time for thanksgiving prayers. Sharing the incidents on how God has got you out of difficulty, how you acquired growth, what strengthened your faith should be done. Thanksgiving Blessings. Com is a site which offers you various ways of celebrating your thanksgiving day, thereby making it an unforgettable day.

2015-04-03

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