A Prayer of Gratitude for Life’s Blessings
By: Kristine Brown
Ever feel like you wake up each morning to more problems? Like they’re waiting for you to open your eyes, so they can grab all your attention at the start of your day? Problems can consume us. Steal our energy. But in the process of handling the many issues that come our way, we may not realize the effect they have on our attitudes.
Focusing on life’s issues can lead to frustration, discouragement, or even hopelessness. One way to ensure that problems don’t overshadow the blessings in our lives is to give thanks. Dealing with one problem after another leaves me with a scarce gratitude list. But I can always find things to fill that list, even when my life seems filled with problems.
“...give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV
We’re familiar with that old saying, “Count your blessings.” It’s something many of us learned at a young age. Yet, how often do we stop and proclaim the things we are thankful for? Especially in today’s world, where complaining and arguing have become a way of life?
Paul gave the church at Thessalonica guidance to help them live abundant and fruitful lives through any circumstance they encountered. He encouraged them to “give thanks in all circumstances...” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV) Yes, there would be trials and challenges, but Paul had learned the power of gratitude. He knew this valuable truth. In the worst times of life, we can still discover the peace and hope of Christ by counting our blessings.
It’s easy to let thoughts about everything going wrong drown out the many things going right. But it only takes a moment to find something we’re thankful for, however small it may seem. A simple pause to thank God for that one thing in the midst of challenges can change our outlook from discouraged to hopeful. Let’s begin with this prayer of gratitude for life’s blessings.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the blessings in my life. I confess that I haven’t stopped to give you thanks for the many ways you have blessed me. Instead, I’ve let problems take over my attention. Forgive me, Lord. You deserve all the gratitude I can give and so much more.
Each day seems to bring more problems, and the more I focus on them the more discouraged I become. Your Word teaches me the value of gratitude. In Psalm 50:23, you proclaim, “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” Help me remember this amazing promise and make gratitude a priority in my life.
Starting each day giving thanks to you for life’s blessings will renew my attitude toward any problems that happen. Gratitude is a powerful weapon against discouragement and hopelessness. Strengthen me, Lord, to resist distractions and focus fully on your goodness. Thank you for the greatest gift of all, your son Jesus Christ.
In his name, Amen.
For more spiritual growth resources to help with frustration and discouragement, check out this free prayer printable from Kristine, One-Sentence Prayers for Letting Go of Frustration. You’ll find weekly encouragement to help you “become more than yourself through God’s Word” at her website, kristinebrown.net. Kristine Brown is the author of the book, Over It. Conquering Comparison to Live Out God’s Plan, and the companion devotional for teens.
Editor's Note: We're proud to announce we've just launched a new nighttime companion to Your Daily Prayer: the Your Nightly Prayer devotional. You can find it on the website at crosswalk.com/devotionals/your-nightly-prayer, where you can sign up to receive it every evening in your inbox. We are also offering it in podcast form at https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/. We hope it's a relaxing and soothing way to wind down your day with rich meditations on God.
Listen to the Your Nightly Prayer Podcast
Struggling with acceptance or feeling misunderstood? Remember, your true identity is found in being fully known and loved by God. Let His unconditional love be your anchor, and rest tonight in the assurance that you are cherished beyond measure. Listen to this episode of Your Nightly Prayer, and if you like what you hear, subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss a new episode!
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Originally published Wednesday, 17 November 2021.
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