Daily Worship

Prayer of thanksgiving

Robert Allan September 04, 2015 0 0

Luke 14:15-24

(ESV)

15 When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 16 But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant[a] to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 20 And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23 And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”

Almighty God, we wonder how we managed to exist without the knowledge that you are our Father, you fashioned us in your own image, and you love us with a perfect love that knows us all by name, a love that knows each one of us so well. We rejoice in that knowledge and thank you for your love – a love that, at times, lets us come to you with our anger and disappointment and questions – especially so when we feel tired or hopeless or sad or confused – when life doesn’t seem to add up. Thank you that you hear our woes, bear them, and yet still love us, still bring us a sense of calm, still bring meaning to our complicated lives, still bring us your peace such as the world cannot give and which is truly beyond our understanding.

We thank you, Lord, that you have been there for us in days past, that your presence is with us now, and that we need not fear tomorrow for you will still be with us – we can face life with confidence, with courage, with hope, even when the storm clouds gather. You, Father, are in control – help us to live out our thanksgiving by trusting in you each step of the way as we journey through life, following Jesus who himself taught us to pray using these words we now say together...

Our Father in heaven

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done, on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.

For the Kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen