This past Sunday, we sang the Getty’s song My Heart Is Filled With Thankfulness. We also prayed this prayer from Thomas Cranmer…
Almighty God, Father of all mercies,
We, your unworthy servants, give humble and hearty thanks
for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all people;
we bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life;
but, above all, for your amazing love
in the redemption of the world through our Lord Jesus Christ;
for the means of grace;
and for the hope of glory.
And, we pray, give us that due sense of all your mercies,
that our hearts may be truly thankful
and that we may declare your praise
not only with our lips but in our lives,
by giving up ourselves to your service,
and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory,
now and forever. Amen.
Some other articles that I’ve found helpful are here from CCEF:
Thankful People by David Powlison
“Gratitude happens when you take to heart a good gift that brings you great pleasure. In what follows, I offer you old, seasoned gifts: a hymn, a prayer, and a poem. Each intends to prime the pump of your thankfulness.”
I Am Not Giving Thanks by Ed Welch
“We do not give thanks for oppression or victimization, and we do not give thanks for cancer, spinal cord injuries, or even more innocuous things like headaches.”
Instilling Gratitude in Your Family by Julie Lowe
“Gratitude does not come naturally to us, but it can be cultivated. It acknowledges that no matter my condition, my possessions, my sufferings, or my blessings, we are rich in the ways the world cannot quantify.”
Have a great Thanksgiving week!