The writers of Encouraging.com are celebrating their fifteen year landmark by making their 365 daily devotional book, God Moments, available as a free digital download! A total of thirty-six GABC writers have faithfully captured “moments of God’s presence” in their lives to encourage your own spiritual journey. You can find God Moments on amazon.com, iTunes, and BarnesandNoble.com.


NIV is used unless otherwise noted.



THANKSGIVING: A PRAYER FROM A BROKEN VESSEL

Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; 
make known among the nations
                                                              what He has done.                                                                      
                                                                   Psalm 105:4                                                                                           
Father God,

It is Thanksgiving Day in America—a day set aside to offer you thanks. As I reflect on Your character and deeds, I am thankful that You are the Creator and the Restorer.

Lord, You are the Potter, and I am the clay. You have molded me into the vessel You intended me to be. You have determined my place and my use that will best glorify Your name (Acts 17:24-28).

I desire to glorify You. Yet, I have done that which You did not desire and have failed to do that which You asked of me. I have harbored attitudes that grieve You. Too often I have resembled the world and not You. I have stumbled. I have fallen. I am a broken vessel.

Yet, Father, in Your mercy You have not cast me aside. You have not discarded me as worthless. Instead, You have drawn me. As I have surrendered, You have put me back together piece by piece. Yes, the cracks in this vessel are still clearly visible. Yet, You have restored our fellowship and have filled me, so that through those cracks the light of Your glory shines, showing others that this all-surpassing power is from You, not me.

 Thank You that in this life though I am hard pressed, I am not crushed. Though at times I am perplexed, I am not in despair. Though I am persecuted, I will not be abandoned; for You have promised never to leave or forsake me. Even though I may be struck down and my life taken physically, I cannot be destroyed. To be absent from the body is to be present with You and to be fully glorified as You intend me to be (2 Corinthians 4:6-9, 5:8; Romans 8:30).

Thanksgiving be to You, O God! For from You and through You and to You are all things. To You be glory forever! Amen. (Romans 11:36)
“Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! 
Thou are the Potter; I am the clay. 
  Mold me and make me after Thy will, 
While I am waiting, yielded and still.”
Jan Burkhart

No comments: