Friday 1 November 2019

Thanksgiving Prayer


As my husband Jan and I were preparing to have family come over the Atlantic to stay with us in November 2019, I realised that our American relatives were going to be with us over Thanksgiving. I’ve prepared several Easter, Christmas and New Year dinners over the years but never Thanksgiving dinner! I decided that I would break the mould and host Thanksgiving for the family so that they didn’t feel like they were missing out on this American celebration while they holidayed on British soil!

As I ordered Thanksgiving themed decorations online and Googled the traditional dishes that make up a Thanksgiving meal, I found myself getting into the spirit of it all. Before long I could feel the weight of a poem in my heart and I wanted to write something that could be used by any family to give thanks to God before their Thanksgiving meal. It seems when it comes to writing poems for specific celebrations throughout the year there must be no festival left behind! I hope my poem “Thanksgiving Prayer” can be a blessing for many families on this and every Thanksgiving to come!
We come before You Father God to give You thanks and praise,
We know that You have blessed our lives in many different ways.
We lift our hands in one accord with every heart decided
To now express our gratitude for all You have provided.

Thank You for our family and thank You for this home,
For all the friends who mean we never face this life alone.
Praise for Your protection and the roof above our heads,
For all our creature comforts and the safety of our beds.

Thank You for the happy times in life we get to share.
Thank You for Your wisdom Lord when answering each prayer,
For giving us Your Holy Word that guides us every day.
We offer You our worship Lord for showing us the way!

Thank You for the darker times that brought us to Your Throne,
The hardships that reminded us this world is not our home.
Praise for all the strength You gave when trials seemed too tough
And showing us Your grace and love will always be enough.

We honour and exalt You Lord, we praise the King of kings!
Incline our hearts to You and turn our eyes from worthless things.
So as we come together now and celebrate this Fall,
May our eyes be fixed upon the greatest Gift of all!

Thank You for Your sacrifice, for dying on the Tree,
For all the grace and mercy that Your love speaks over me.
Thank You for Your constant care and all the hope You bring,
Thank You for eternal life with Jesus Christ our King!

Protect our friends and family should they be near or far,
We offer up our praises Lord because of who You are!
Fill us with contentment, may it never come to end.
Bless us this Thanksgiving Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Psalm 95:2
“Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.”

Psalm 105:1
“Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples!”

James 1:17
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

Ephesians 5:20
“Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Psalm 107:1
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

1 Thessalonians 5:18
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

1 Corinthians 4:7
“For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?”

1 Timothy 6:8
“And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.”

Psalm 100:4
“Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name!”

Download a PDF of this poem to keep and share