Prayer of gratitude that fosters joy
Written by Kelly Eichberger
Bible reading:
I sincerely thank the Lord. I will tell you all about your wonderful deeds. (Psalm 9:1 ESV)
Listen or read below:
Very often I find myself down in the dumps for no good reason. You may also feel discouraged, disappointed, or depressed, rattling off a long list of justifications. In fact, right now I look back at a difficult and drawn-out season that I’m still limping through and sometimes struggle to laugh at all. But whether it’s justified or not, I wish it had never happened because I wasted my days without the joy that filled me. Needless to say, deep down I know there is always something to be happy about. Because the truth is, God has blessed me beyond measure. He gives good gifts in abundance to all his beloved children.
Are you feeling very happy today? Or for some reason your smile also seems to be hiding below the surface? You are being suffocated by some kind of conflict that you are facing within yourself or around you. I think we can all agree that no matter how happy or fulfilled we feel in the present moment, we can always lift our spirits. But we continually sabotage our own joy by ignoring the many good things God has placed in us. I know for sure that I’m guilty.
We also know that there is a simple but very difficult solution. The truth is, when you want to increase your joy, simply increasing your gratitude is enough. Even when we are struggling or suffering. Even on the difficult days, even when the moments hurt, and especially when the season brings more disappointments than we expected. It’s not easy. Not at all. We are fighting an aggressive enemy who wants to hurt us. Who will work tenaciously to oppress us? Who is relentlessly confusing and distracting from our pursuit of God? Because Satan knows that when we are locked into God’s goodness, we will not want to look away. We will give God more glory. We would like to thank and praise him more and more. And our joy will only increase.
That’s what we should do. Look to God and His mercy. Let’s fight back by facing forward and fighting. Focus on God’s good promises, proclaim His praises, and notice every little blessing, great blessing, and beautiful blessing God has placed before us.
Psalm 91:1 says, “I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart.” I will tell you all about your wonderful deeds. And God’s Word reminds us countless times to be thankful, to rejoice, to praise, and to remember all that God has done for us. And do these things with a sincere heart. But how quickly do we get lost in our own disappointments? How often do we turn away from the light and stare into the dark shadows? These reminders need repeating. We need to regain the recognition that it is only in heartfelt worship that we can experience the fulfillment and joy we long for. I feel this every Sunday morning as I pour out praise in song with other believers.
So now, let us consider the goodness around us for the joy we are looking forward to. Let’s think about the beauty and blessings of the path behind us. And let us ponder the promise that lies on the horizon before us. Name them out loud, write them all down, and whisper them in a prayer of worship. One by one. Over and over again. And watch and feel your spirits lift. Make this a habit and watch your joy increase and abundance flow. I know that’s what you want. All of God’s children do this. And He wants to give each of us exactly that, and then some.
Let’s pray:
Lord Jesus, thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the wonderful things you have given and done. In the hard days of darkness and the long seasons of struggle, I know that my heart gets caught up in trouble and loses sight of your abundant blessings. But I know this is when I am depriving myself of the joy that you also want from me. Lord, I have noticed that when I focus my eyes and heart on You and Your goodness, and when I thank You again and again for Your constant flow of blessings, joy increases and enriches my life. So please help me stay grateful. Because I know that in every moment, every day, and always, there is much to praise you for. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Lord. Amen.
If you liked what you read, you might also like my latest book, Conquering Worries: Conquering What Shakes You and Soaring with Those Who Overcome. You can find it on Amazon or your favorite online retailer. I hope it brings you blessings!
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Photo credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/digitalskillet
Kelly Eichberger is a Kentucky girl who loves Jesus. She is married to her best friend Mike and they have five children. After years of writing for online audiences, Keri was ordained through Southeast Christian Church and dedicated her life to full-time ministry. She is the author of Win Over Worry: Conquer What Shakes You and Soar With the One Who Overcomes and is passionate about sharing faith-filled encouragement through devotional writing. Connect with Keri at kerieichberger.com or on Instagram.
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In this episode of the Unhurried Living podcast, Alan Fadling sits down with theologian and spiritual formation professor Kyle Strobel to discuss his new book, When God Seems Distant, co-written with John Coe. If this episode helps you focus your work and life on God, be sure to follow Unhurried Living on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode.
