Linger in Gratitude
Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced. 1 Chronicles 16:12 (NIV)
What a great word! But you see, I have a problem: I am too busy to linger anywhere these days! We tend to occupy ourselves in meaningless tasks and thoughts and don’t take the time to just stick around. As only Sarah Young (Jesus Listens) can do, here is a prayer that will cause you to ponder…even linger.
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Merciful God,
Please help me to linger in gratitude. This is a most delightful place—where the Joy of Your Presence shines warmly upon me.
Often, I pray fervently for something and wait hopefully for the answer. If You grant my request, I respond joyfully and thankfully. But my tendency is to move on rather quickly to seeking the next thing. Instead of experiencing only a short-lived burst of gratitude. I want to remain in an attitude of thankful Joy—letting my gratefulness flow freely into the future. I need to train myself to remember Your gracious response to my request. One way is to tell others about the blessings I’ve received from You. Another way is to write down the prayer-answers someplace where I’ll see them again and again.
Lord, teach me to remember Your marvelous works with thankfulness. You’ve been showing me that gratefulness blesses me doubly—with happy memories of answered prayer and with the delight of sharing Joy with You!
Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. Psalm 95:2 (NIV)
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57 (NIV)