Wherever this holiday finds you, you can always find things to be thankful for, most important, the love of God. May these prayers draw you closer to Him and to others this Thanksgiving.
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Thankfulness
Then Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance. There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.”
1 Samuel 2:1-2
I rejoice in you, my Lord. I find salvation in your love and grace. Only when I depend on you for everything am I free to experience your abundance. I pray that when trouble or want finds me, I will not turn from you or deny my faith. As I stand on the mountaintop of joy, may I remember the view and return to this image. My praises shall fill the canyon below and the sky above.
I hope to make gratitude my offering to you each day. Through my speech, my actions, and my efforts, may you know that I am so very thankful for you.
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Reaching Out
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Proverbs 31:8-9
Lord, I pray for the many people who struggle to make ends meet: the families who face a life of shelters and job-searching, the mothers who care for their children and sacrifice their own health and well-being. Lord, pour out your mercy on your children living in poverty and fear of the future.
Help me reach out to ease the burden of another person. Am I looking closely at those people within my very reach? Who needs assistance? When I have so much, let me multiply the blessings you give to me by extending them to other people. Your plan is not for a few to prosper. Allow me the willingness to be a steward of kindness and wealth. It is all about speaking up and showing up for your children in need.
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The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Matthew 6:9-13
God in heaven and all around me, I thank you for hearing the prayers of your child. May I pray with a heart of humility that receives your will and guidance and grace without my own judgments getting in the way. Lord, grant me the sense of hope I need to truly engage in communication with my Creator. Lead me into times of open dialogue with you. Bring me to my knees so that I can be humble enough to open my mind, heart, and spirit to receive your love and to fully feel your power and glory. Amen.
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These prayers are from One-Minute Prayers for a Woman’s Year by Hope Lyda.
Hope has a heart for helping people explore their life, purpose, faith, and connection to this world through the power of the written word. She is a spiritual director, editor, and writer who has worked in publishing for more than 20 years. Her popular devotionals, novels, and prayer books have sold more than one million copies combined. Visit her at www.mywritedirection.com.
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