This morning I took my dog for a walk. She has put on some weight over the winter and needs the exercise! As I headed out I began to pray. While this is nothing new, I often pray while I walk, I decided this morning, I would only offer prayers of thanksgiving. You see we’ve been studying the book of Colossians and we’ve had an emphasis on thanksgiving. I wanted to try applying some of what we’d been learning about thankfulness. To only pray prayers of thanksgiving took a little discipline, as I was tempted to make requests as well, but it was a blessed time. I thought a brief version of that prayer might encourage you…
Father,
Thank You for my two good legs (I begin with the obvious, usually physical), thank You for the beautiful sun shining, thank You for the awesome path in my neighborhood to walk on. I am not thankful for this wind, so I confess that sin to You, I know I should be thankful for it, please make me thankful (oops a request!).
Thank You for the runner on the path, because human interaction is good. How awful it would be to be all alone. Thank You for my eye sight which allows me to see this beautiful creation. Thank You for the beautiful black and red bird. Thank You for all you have made.
I now move to pray about the tasks I have today…being thankful for how I will accomplish them and the reasons behind why they must be done…
Thank You for my in laws, who are coming today and how they love us and desire to be with us. Thank You for my car that will take me to my errands. Thank You for my family and the opportunity we have to have a photo taken. Thank You for the photographer. Thank You for Nathan’s Court of Honor this weekend. Thank You for all the things he has learned over the years as a boy scout.
My thoughts now begin to lean to spiritual matters…
Thank You for the ladies in the class (I thank Him for all of the ladies by name and the things I see Him doing in their lives).
Thank You for our Bible study teacher, Kristie and how she brings us Your Word, and how she loves us. Thank You for the teaching I have received lately on thankfulness (now I focus on what He has done in my life). Thank You for my salvation. Thank you for the work You’ve done in my heart. Thank You for the areas where I still struggle, because they remind me that I need a Savior. Thank You for the little victories in the areas that I struggle…
As I round the corner to my house I see the white house belonging to Bob and Karen Atkins. Thank You Lord for Bob and Karen, and how they minister to our church and to me personally.
As I approach my house…Thank You for this wind! I am now hot and sweaty and this wind cools me off!!
I am now ready for the day…