When we seek to know God’s will, we are always given what we need. Perhaps this doesn’t correspond to what we want but we thank you.
Lord of all,
you are a God of plenty, a Lord who provides
for us in our need.
As I begin these early days of Advent
help me to believe that you know what I need.
Give me the courage to listen to your voice
and the freedom to open my heart to the graces you are offering me to place my trust in you.
Amen
As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, let’s invite God into our plans and preparations with a posture of humility and gratitude.
Lord Jesus,
Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.
We who have so much to do and seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day,
We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us.
We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom.
We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence.
We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light.
To you we say, “Come Lord Jesus!’
Amen.
– Henri J.M. Nouwen
In all things, joys and sorrows, we have reason to praise the Lord.
I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be always in my mouth. My soul will glory in the Lord; let the poor hear and be glad. Magnify the Lord with me; and let us exalt his name together. (Ps 34:2-4)
Amen
Remember the past with gratitude. Live the present with enthusiasm. Look forward to the future with confidence. –St. John Paul II.
A Prayer Inspired by St. John Paul II
Heavenly Father,
I come before You with a heart full of gratitude,
Thankful for the blessings of my past,
For the lessons learned, the love shared,
And the experiences that have shaped me into who I am today.
Help me to remember the moments of joy and grace,
And to carry those memories as a source of strength.
May I reflect on my journey with a grateful heart,
Recognizing Your hand at work in every season of my life.
As I embrace the present, fill me with enthusiasm,
To live each day to the fullest,
To appreciate the beauty of each moment,
And to serve others with love and kindness.
Help me to be fully present,
Finding joy in the ordinary and extraordinary alike.
Looking to the future, grant me confidence and hope,
Trusting in Your divine plan for my life.
May I face the unknown with courage,
Knowing that You are always with me,
Guiding my steps and lighting my path.
Lord, help me to live a life marked by gratitude,
Enthusiasm, and unwavering faith in You.
In all things, may I seek to glorify Your name,
And to be a beacon of Your love to the world.
In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Are you counting all your blessings? Pray the words from Rend Collective:
I was lost, now I’m found by the Father
I’ve been changed from a ruin to treasure
I’ve been given a hope and a future
I’ve been blessed beyond all measure
I am counting every blessing, counting every blessing
Letting go and trusting when I cannot see
I am counting every blessing, counting every blessing
Surely every season You are good to me
If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is
Thank You
that will be enough.
Meister Eckhart
Let us all give thanks on this day and foster a grateful and loving heart:
For the expanding grandeur of creation, world’s known and unknown, galaxies beyond galaxies, filling us with awe and challenging our imaginations:
We give thanks on this day.
For this fragile planet earth, its times and tides, its sunsets and seasons:
We give thanks on this day.
For the joy of human life, its wonders and surprises, its hopes and achievements:
We give thanks on this day.
For our human community, our common past and future hope, our oneness transcending all separation, our capacity to work for peace and justice in the midst of hostility and oppression:
We give thanks on this day.
For high hopes and noble causes, for faith without fanaticism, for understanding of views not shared:
We give thanks on this day.
For all who have labored and suffered for a fairer world, who have lived so that others might live in dignity and freedom:
We give thanks on this day.
For human liberty and sacred rites; for opportunities to change and grow, to affirm and choose:
We give thanks on this day.
We pray that we may live not by our fears but by our hopes, not by our words but by our deeds.
We give thanks on this day.
– O. Eugene Pickett
In this season we find ourselves in let us always remember that we are in the holy presence of God.
Loving Creator,
We asked for strength, and you gave us difficulties to make us strong.
We asked for wisdom, and you gave us problems to solve.
We asked for prosperity, and you gave us purpose and brains to use.
We asked for courage, and you gave us fears to overcome.
We asked for patience, and you gave us situations where we were forced to wait.
We asked for love, and you gave us troubled people to help.
We asked for justice, and you called us to be just and to lead with integrity.
Lord, we have received nothing that we asked for or wanted.
And yet, we received everything that we needed.
For this, we give thanks.
–Dr. Colleen Hanycz, 35th president of Xavier University
As we enter the season of Thanksgiving, I’m grateful that gratitude is more readily on my mind! A photo of God’s love message to me above on a silent retreat. Grateful for the silence in order to hear our Lord’s voice and see the blessings.
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.
Thank you, Lord.
– By Kelli Mahoney
God of all nations, Father of the human family,
we give you thanks for the freedom we exercise
and the many blessings of democracy we enjoy
in these United States of America.
We ask for your protection and guidance
for all who devote themselves to the common good,
working for justice and peace at home and around the world.
We lift up all our duly elected leaders and public servants,
those who will serve us as president, as legislators and judges,
those in the military and law enforcement.
Heal us from our differences and unite us, O Lord,
with a common purpose, dedication, and commitment to achieve liberty and justice in the years ahead for all people,
and especially those who are most vulnerable in our midst.
Amen
From USCCB
Smitten With Goodness 