Prayer for Thanksgiving Day (3)

Oh, eternal God, source of all happiness, God of all grace, we want to acknowledge with thankful hearts your undeserved mercies. You make our cup overflow with blessings. You have been our protector and guardian. You have shielded us from unknown dangers. You have fended off unseen disasters. You have saved us from bitter trials. No earthly friend could have loved us and cared for us like you. We are your monuments to a kindness as amazing as it is undeserved.

We acknowledge our sins. We have not displayed to the world a consistency of walk and speech. We have not declared to the world that for us and for our house we will serve the Lord. We have not prized your word as we ought to have. The flame of love and devotion has not burned as brightly in our hearts as it ought to have. We have not let your light illuminate our activities, work, and play. We have not done all that we could have done for you.

Give us grace. We mourn for our failings, but humbly and sincerely resolve to live more devoted lives for you in the future. Accept our confessions for Jesus’ sake. Sprinkle our guilty hearts with his precious blood. Let us always seek to walk before you in holiness and righteousness to the glory of your name.

We give ourselves and all that belongs to us to your care and keeping. Give us grace to trust you implicitly even when your dealings cross our own purposes and frustrate our plans. You love us too well to let us have our own way. Let us know no will but yours, following your guiding footsteps, may we say, “The Lord is our shepherd, we will not want.”

Unto your great name, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we ascribe blessing, honor, and praise.