Give Thanks and Rejoice!

Give Thanks and Rejoice!
“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High (Psalm 92:1).  Have you ever wondered why God says it’s good to give thanks? Quite simply because, giving God thanks readjusts our focus. When we praise and thank the Lord, the pressures and demands of daily life don’t feel as heavy. Instead of having our minds distracted by the cares of this world, God and His goodness become the center of our focus. Just as important, we gain awareness of our dependence upon Him and become more appreciative of His care and provision in all things.
The truth is, gratitude releases our anxiety. We rarely feel grateful when we’re burdened with troubles and worries, but that’s the time when we most need to offer God our most heartfelt gratitude. There’s an amazing physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual change that occurs when we begin voicing praise. Burdens are lifted, the internal churning stops, and we come away rejoicing in the Lord. Thanksgiving, simply reinforces our faith! Recalling our blessings and the many ways God has expressed His goodness toward us, reminds us of His faithfulness. Recalling how He has worked in our, past strengthens us to trust Him for the future. The next time you are overwhelmed by social separation and you’re feeling down or burdened, remember all the good that comes from thanking the Lord and lift your voice in gratefulness for what was done for us on the cross. Give thanks always and rejoice in the Lord!
A THANKSGIVING PRAYER
Accept, O Lord, our thanks and praise for all that you have done for us. We thank you for the splendor of the whole creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life, and for the mystery of love. We thank you for the blessing of family and friends, and for the loving care which surrounds us on every side. We thank you for setting us at tasks that demand our best efforts, and for leading us to accomplishments that satisfy and delight us. We thank you also for those disappointments and failures that lead us to acknowledge our dependence on you alone. Above all, we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ; for the truth of his Word and the example of his life; for his steadfast obedience, by which he overcame temptation; for his dying, through which he conquered death; and for his rising to life again, in which we are raised to the life of your kingdom. Grant us the gift of your Spirit, that we may know Christ and make him known; and through him, at all times and in all places, may give thanks to you in all things.  Amen.
2019 ACNA Book of Common Prayer
Grace and peace always,
Fr. Greg+  

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