Promises for the Battle
Gratitude
Thanksgiving Sonnet 2025—Grateful for Ministry
As I thought about a theme for this year’s Thanksgiving sonnet-prayer, I was struck by the gratitude Paul felt and expressed for being able to contribute to the growth of the saints after they came to Christ. This gratitude appears in three of his letters, one from early in his ministry and two from later. … Continue reading
Remembering and Celebrating the Lord’s Kindnesses
When the godly see God’s wondrous work, they rejoice, and every sinner shuts his mouth. If you are wise, remember these things, and pay attention to the kindnesses of I AM. Psalm 107:42–43 This year’s Thanksgiving prayer springs from following the psalmist’s command to remember and celebrate the extraordinary kindnesses God has extended to me … Continue reading
I Was Just Thinking … About Having Fellowship With God
The psalmist said, “As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God” (Psalm 42:1). He was a shepherd, who had often seen deer panting for a satisfying drink from a stream’s pure waters. This was the best illustration he could think of to describe the intense longing that he … Continue reading
I Was Just Thinking … About the Gratitude of Faith
The Bible clearly teaches that thanksgiving is essential to prayer and fellowship with God. We should never draw near to God without expressing our thanks. “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him, and bless his name” (Psalm 100:4). Thanksgiving should accompany all our prayer requests. “In everything by … Continue reading
Praise and Thanks for Grace to Serve
God is gracious to us in that he exerts himself on our behalf so that we have cause to enjoy more and more of the goodness he enjoys about himself. His grace is sufficient to effect a transformation in us that will enable us to be successful in all that he gives us to do. … Continue reading
Thanksgiving Sonnet 2019—Identified by Gratitude
This year’s sonnet prayer for Thanksgiving arose from my thinking about Colossians 3:15–17. As an added bonus there’s a threefold benediction that you can use at the end of your celebration of God’s grace. Colossians 3:15–17 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; … Continue reading
I Was Just Thinking … About Responding to Grace
When John Newton wrote the song “Amazing Grace,” he celebrated the panorama of God’s grace, including the grace that saved him, the grace that brought him through trials, and the prospect of a grace-filled life of joy and peace in eternity, for which he expected to continue praising God after ten thousand years. Newton’s song … Continue reading
Thanksgiving Sonnet—A Day Is Not Enough
Always rejoice, constantly pray, in everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 O Lord, we set aside this day to say That we rejoice in all that you have done; With love and joy we’ve only just begun To celebrate your gracious resumé. Indeed, a day … Continue reading
Superlative Thanksgiving
It is good to give you thanks, O Yahweh; to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your extravagant kindness in the morning and your faithfulness by night. … For you, Yahweh, have made me happy by your work. I will sing for joy because of what you have done. Psalm 92:1–4 … Continue reading
Grateful Imitation
Just before the Passover feast, Jesus knew that his time had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now loved them to the very end. … Jesus knew that the Father had handed all things over to him, and that he had come … Continue reading
Promises for the Battle 