God finds, amid the crowd, a few people who follow Him, just to be near Him, just to dwell in His presence. A longing in the Eternal Heart may be satisfied by these few people. I will let God know that I seek just to dwell in His presence, to be near Him, not so much for teaching or a message, as just for Him. It may be that the longing of the human heart to be loved for itself is something caught from the Great Divine Heart.
Lord, I pray that I may have a listening ear, so that God may speak to me. I pray that I may have a waiting heart, so that God may come to me. Amen
Thank you, Lord, for the blessings you have bestowed on my life. You have provided me with more than I could ever have imagined. You have surrounded me with people who always look out for me. You have given me family and friends who bless me every day with kind words and actions. They lift me up in ways that keep my eyes focused on you and make my spirit soar.
Also, thank you, Lord, for keeping me safe. You protect me from those things that seem to haunt others. You help me make better choices and provide me with advisors to help me with life’s difficult decisions. You speak to me in so many ways so that I always know you are here.
And Lord, I am so grateful for keeping those around me safe and loved. I hope that you provide me with the ability and sense to show them every day how much they matter. I hope that you give me the ability to give to them the same kindness they have provided to me.
I am extremely grateful for all of your blessings in my life, Lord. I pray that you remind me of just how blessed I am and that you never allow me to forget to show my gratitude in prayer and return acts of kindness.
To pray is to regain a sense of the mystery that animates all beings, the divine margin in all attainments. Prayer is our humble answer to the inconceivable surprise of living. It is all we can offer in return. Who is worthy to be present at the constant unfolding of time? Here we are amidst the meditation of the land, the songs of the water, the humility of the flowers, flowers wiser than all alphabets – Suddenly we feel embarrassed, ashamed of our complaints and clashes in the face of tacit glory. How strange we are in the world! Only one response can maintain us: gratefulness for the gift of our unearned chance to serve, to wonder, to love life and each other. It is gratefulness which makes our small souls great.
– By Abraham Joshua Heschel, the rabbi, scholar, and philosopher
Loving Lord, As I express my gratitude to you in prayer, may it be a pleasing, joyful sound to you. Thank you, Lord, for your love. It brings me acceptance and significance. Thank you, Lord, for your truth. It brings me guidance and direction. Thank you, Lord, for your mercy. It brings me help and comfort. Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness. It brings me stability and strength. Thank you, Lord, for your beauty displayed on the earth. It brings me joy and delight. Thank you, Lord, for your way of redemption – the cross. It brings me salvation and regeneration.
Holy Spirit, open my heart to understand how precious I am to you, how loved I am by you. Open the eyes of my soul, to see the gifts you have put before me this day. Give me the grace to recognize each encounter with you. Teach me to respond in gratitude, to grow in gratitude. Teach me to be generous, as you are generous with me, and to collaborate with you in serving my sister and my brother for your greater glory.
Holy, you are the most holy one. Draw me towards holiness. I see, hear, and touch glimpses of you and your love as your will is fulfilled before me. You have given me this day to live.
Spirit, inspire me to rise up and live alive, choosing your will, not mine. Pulling the weeds of temptation by choosing what I want and planting seeds of your promises. Provide me the fortitude to be gentle with my aging body and tuning into its needs. I’m sorry for that many times when I have abused myself, starving it for movement and nutrition by falling into the trap of abandoning my body. By putting myself last on the list of people to care for. When I prioritized the comfort of work or lack of discipline rather than movement or healthy choices. I forgive myself and I’m open to your purification to cleanse me and teach me the way to do this. Help me lose the all or nothing and live in the tension and call on the Spirit of self-control. Protect my thoughts that become desires, I will bring them to you. I will use the relationship with my body to bring me closer to you.
I commit myself to you, establish my plans. This is how I will serve you today living in your power and glory. By loving the temple of my aging body. God be praised, hallelujah is my song, in gratitude.
I’ve always been a person who accepts change despite my desire to cling to the comfort of the known. Lately I’ve been leaning into using AI to help with my work writing. It’s a great tool, just like the calculator has been. I got curious and asked Microsoft CoPilot to scour SWG and write a poem of gratitude which follows. Despite it not being crafted directly from my heart, it did a pretty good job!
Heavenly Father,
I come before You with a heart full of gratitude. Thank You for the countless blessings You bestow upon me each day. Your goodness surrounds me, and I am in awe of Your love and grace.
Thank You for the gift of integrity, for guiding me to live a life of honesty and virtue. Help me to walk in Your truth and to reflect Your goodness in all that I do.
I am grateful for the moments of stillness where I can feel Your presence and for the strength You provide during times of challenge. Your love sustains me, and Your wisdom guides me.
Lord, I thank You for the beauty of creation, for the people You have placed in my life, and for the opportunities to grow in faith and love. May I always be mindful of Your goodness and strive to cultivate it within myself and in the world around me.
I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart, I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. Psalm 9:1
Lord, I come before you with an open heart, longing to see your goodness all around me. Gratitude is your precious gift, but sometimes my eyes are clouded and my spirit grows weary. Come Holy Spirit, ignite within me a deep and abiding thankfulness. Help me to see your blessings in the ordinary and the extraordinary. May each sunrise, each act of kindness, fill me with wonder. In times of challenge, let gratitude be my compass, reminding me of your faithfulness and guiding me towards hope. Use my grateful heart, Lord. May my life radiate your joy and draw others closer to you. Thank you for the transformative power of gratitude, a gift I long to receive fully and share freely. Amen
Smitten With Goodness 