Teach Us To Pray

Virtue of Gratitude

Season of thanksgiving in prayer

Gratitude is a virtue we need to always strive to cultivate in our lives. We are called to always be grateful to God for all that He has given us, even when we don’t understand what He is doing in our lives.

Our entire lives and all that we have are from God. He is the source of all gifts, of grace, of our happiness, and of our salvation. There is a lot to be grateful for.

Are you making a special effort to thank God daily? We can offer our gratitude when He has given us what we have prayed for, when He has answered our prayers in unexpected ways, or when He has given us what we needed before we even asked.

Over the next nine days, we will pray the Novena of Gratitude, giving thanks to God for all the blessings we see from Him and for those we do not see.

Lord, help us grow hearts of gratitude.  Heal us from our lack of gratefulness, especially in light of Your faithfulness. Amen

Teach Us To Pray

Prayer of Gratitude

Season of thanksgiving in prayer

Heavenly Father,

We come before You with hearts full of gratitude. In a world filled with chaos and uncertainty, we thank You for Your constant presence and unwavering love. Your Word reminds us to give thanks in all circumstances, for this is Your will for us in Christ Jesus.

Lord, we acknowledge that true gratitude comes through the victory of Jesus on the cross. We cannot be grateful in everything by our own strength, but through Your Spirit, we can develop hearts inclined toward thankfulness. Help us to consistently express appreciation for both the big and small blessings in our lives.

As we face fears and stressors, remind us that our gratitude stems from Jesus’ triumph over sin and death. May we always see Your goodness, count our blessings, and endure tough times with a thankful heart. Let our lives overflow with thankfulness, focusing on Your goodness regardless of our circumstances.

In Jesus’ name, we pray.

Amen

Teach Us To Pray

Attitude of Gratitude

Season of thanksgiving in prayer

The phrase “attitude of gratitude” has gained popularity across social media, workplaces, and communities, serving as a reminder to foster gratitude amidst a chaotic world. For Christians, this concept aligns with biblical teachings. Scripture, such as 1 Thessalonians 5:18, encourages giving thanks in all circumstances as God’s will for us.

Unlike the world’s arbitrary use of the phrase, the Bible acknowledges both suffering and joy, emphasizing that true gratitude comes through Christ’s victory on the cross. We can’t be grateful in everything by our own strength, but through the Spirit, we can develop a heart inclined toward gratitude.

Having an attitude of gratitude means consistently expressing appreciation for both big and small things. This idea, though not new, has gained traction due to rising fears and stressors. Christians can embrace this concept, but it’s crucial to remember that our gratitude stems from Jesus’ victory over sin and death. This helps us see God’s goodness, count our blessings, and endure tough times.

Lord, you call us to have a grateful heart and foster a grateful attitude. Help us recognize the power of thankfulness for everything we have and experience. Remind us to overflow with thankfulness because of Jesus, focusing on His goodness regardless of our circumstances. Amen

Teach Us To Pray

To Be Near

Season of thanksgiving in prayer

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

Teach Us To Pray

Show My Gratitude

Season of thanksgiving in prayer

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.

– By Kelli Mahoney

Teach Us To Pray

Making Our Souls Great

Season of thanksgiving in prayer

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

Teach Us To Pray

Gratitude to You

Season of thanksgiving in prayer

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.

– By Beth McLendon of Inspirational-prayers.com

Teach Us To Pray

Praise and Thanks

Season of thanksgiving in prayer

Blessed are you, Lord God:

Blessed are you forever.

Holy is your name:

Blessed are you forever.

Great is your mercy for your people:

Blessed are you forever.

Thanks for a beautiful day: On a beautiful day,

We may thank God and praise him for his many gifts.

Father of Jesus,

We praise you and give you glory

For the wonderful things you do for us;

For life and health,

for friends and family,

for this splendid day.

Teach Us To Pray

Teach Me Gratitude

Season of thanksgiving in prayer

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.

Rebecca Ruiz

Teach Us To Pray

Fully Alive

Season of thanksgiving in prayer.

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.

Amen.