We do not know the evil we do
With one complaint,
The slightest murmur upon the lips
Of God’s own saint.
Forgive, O Lord, our lack of thanks
For gifts of joy;
By shrunken hearts prevent that we
Your grace destroy.
So many options and opportunities
Father, create a climate for your gospel to grow in this place. May government officials allow us to live in peace. Help us to be good citizens. Let our proclamation of Christ to each person have good results and contribute to a more just society. Bless us that we might be a blessing to others.
Father, there is so much to be thankful for, all from your good hand.
- Thank you for so many options and opportunities.
- Thank you for wisdom to use our time properly.
- Thank you for your Spirit who gives us self-control.
- Thank you for boldness in Christ to show the way through kind and true words.
- Thank you for like-minded brothers and sisters who live by your will and pray at all times.
- Thank you for a clear mind, a sound body, a tender soul, a seeking spirit.
- Thank you for making us participants in the grace of salvation and in the mission of Christ.
- Thank you for knowledge and wisdom to walk before you in love.
- Thank you for providing for needs and for making your provisions always available to us.
- Thank you for the sacrifice of Jesus the Lord who gave himself in our place, for our forgiveness.
Let my tongue be loosed today, so that it may speak of your goodness and love. Father, let the seed of truth bear fruit that remains to eternity.
What Word Have We to Say?
What word, O Lord, have we to say
but praise and gratitude?
From your good hand, day by day,
come life and love and food.
O God, let grace for abounding grace
be found upon our lips;
For heaven’s blessing in every place
all pains and hurts eclipse.
Thanks for the new year
Thank you, Father, for the new year,
For the old that brought us blessing,
For the friends that sharpened us,
For the family that surrounds us,
For work to give meaning,
For walking in your light,
For forgiveness for every sin,
For fellowship with the saints,
For opportunities of tomorrow,
For joy in the present,
For the lessons of the past,
For your plan before time began,
For hope of Jesus’ coming,
For strength in frequent suffering,
For power in the Spirit,
For knowledge to give us confidence,
For love that binds together,
Undying love forever.
What Greater Good?
What greater good, O Lord, than grace
To come into your calming presence?
What glory brings such gladness as yours,
Shared with all, unshadowed by pride?
What depth of love, undying love,
From distance descended down to man?
O Lord, what mercy to lift the soul
To unimagined heights of joy?
The ocean’s waves can never swell
So greatly as our gratitude.
Praise for every good thing that exists
God of heaven, you are to be praised for every good thing that exists, for you are good and in power bring blessing to our lives.
We thank you for your abundant mercy that spills over from us to others who also, like us, need your compassion.
Let not our failings hurt the progress of the gospel. Forgive us and place us in the work that pleases you.
Your will is to save as many as possible. Let this be our life objective.
Strengthen us against temptation, and give us joy in the task ahead.
We thank you for daily bread and daily life in Christ.
Blessed be the God and Savior of the saints across the earth! Let all creation raise its voice in praise to you!
You Know
You know our struggles, Lord, and where they lead,
You know the price behind the suffering deed—
We feel none understands our pain and tears,
Our yearnings, daily needs and lonely years.
The Cross of Christ refuses selfish whining,
“Your will be done” cuts off Egyptian pining;
No lower could the Son of Mary go,
So death to self and dying, Lord, you know.
The challenge of the day’s activities
Heavenly Father, thank you for the challenge of the day’s activities.
As I look back on them, I ask forgiveness for whenever I shrank back in fear, for whenever I felt weak in my own strength, for whenever I drew into my own shell of self, for whenever I let my own inertia keep me from positive action.
Thank you for those moments when your will was at the forefront of my mind, when your Spirit was producing its fruit in my conduct, when Jesus was the example for my words and actions, when Scripture rang in my ears and braced me for spiritual battle.
Let me learn from today’s mistakes, rejoice in good choices, and be comforted that your love is constant as I strive to be more like the Lord Jesus Christ each day.
Words Fail
Heavenly Father, words fail to express
The deepest gratitude, the sharpest need,
But still we know how much you bless,
How deeply you love, how wisely you lead.
Our Father, Thank You
Heavenly Father, thank you for life
In Christ — for minds that seek to know
The reason why we’re here — for hearts
That feel emotions, good and bad —
For wills that choose what pleases you —
For bodies of living sacrifice —
For eyes that see and ears that hear —
For limbs that reach for heaven — for lungs
That breathe the Spirit’s air — for hands
That work — for feet that move the gospel
Into the world — for knees that bow
In grateful prayer and ask of you,
The source of all that’s good, to give
Our daily bread — for yearnings of hope
That cry, “Lord, come!” and watch the sky
For signs and angels and rolling clouds.
Our Father, thank you — for today,
For now, for planting us firmly here,
Where we are at present, not
Another place or better time —
For discipline, testing, proof of faith —
For inching forward our commitment —
For faithfulness of your word of promise
On which we count — for love that dies
And lives again in Christ — Ah, yes!
Above all else, for love — Amen!