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A Prayer About Ramping Up for Thanksgiving Day

     Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:1-5

     Dear Jesus, a week from today is Thanksgiving Day, and as much as I’m looking forward to some serious eating with people I love a whole, whole lot, I feel the need to prime my gratitude pump. Like King David, I’m in constant need of rehearsing the cascading waterfall of benefits and blessings you lavish upon un in Jesus. Here’s a few…  

     I praise you for forgiving all my sins—past, present and future—sins of thought, word, and deed. How staggering an affirmation. I used to think you only forgive confessed sins, but now I realize I’m probably aware of only 4% of my sins. But your blood covers the other 96% as well. As though that wasn’t enough, you’ve taken the punishment I deserve and you’ve covered me in the righteousness that is yours! I shout a threefold “Hallelujah!”

   I praise you for healing all my diseases—diseases in my body, heart and mind. Though I wish you’d completely heal me before you return, nonetheless, I have this sure hope—the healing I’m already receiving in the gospel will be brought to completion.  Praise the Lord, O my soul for present, ongoing, and a secured complete healing!

     I praise you for redeeming my life from all pits—the pit of eternal separation from God… the pits others throw me into… the pits I naively fall into… the pits I foolishly dig for myself! Jesus, you bought and brought us out of all pits by taking the ultimate “pit” of God’s judgment for us on the cross. Praise the Lord, O my soul for an all-pit redemption!

     I praise you for crowing us with your love and compassion. You’ve taken away all our guilt and you’ve born our shame.  My conscience is no longer under the law and condemnation, but under the gospel and freedom. Praise the Lord, O my soul for a coronation of mercy and grace!

     I praise you for satisfying my desires with good things. Lord, I praise you for the whole-face-smile of my grandson… the heart and kiss of my wife… the taste of dark chocolate (in many forms)… the rainbow you painted on the side of a trout… the encouragement from a friend… the sounds of great music… to name a few. Praise the Lord, O my soul for a God who takes my desires seriously and satisfies them in countless ways!

   Jesus, may the unsearchable, innumerable and inexhaustible riches of the gospel renew us today with youth-like energy, today that we may soar eagles and live to the praise of your glorious grace!

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