Grateful

Scotty Smith:  A Prayer for Acknowledging God’s Good Gifts

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. James 1:17–18

Heavenly Father, I awake today a grateful man, and I want to live that way all day long. I’m sure that attitude will be challenged by life in this broken world and by the heart that beats in this broken man. But as someone who has every reason to overflow with thanksgiving, here’s a few of your gifts for which I give you praise this morning.

First and foremost, I praise you for being the changeless Father of heavenly lights, as opposed to being an impetuous god of shifting shadows. We cannot predict you. We cannot control you. We cannot presume on your ways. But we can completely trust you to be present and faithful, loving and consistent. We know this through Jesus, who is the same “yesterday and today and forever” (Heb. 13:8). Unlike us, you’re never moody, nor do you second guess anything.

I’m also thankful that you’ve twice chosen to give me birth. I claim responsibility for neither—either the first time I breathed in oxygen or the second time you breathed the life of Jesus into my dead spirit. We only exist by your pleasure and we only know Jesus by your grace.

Father, I’m also thankful for all kinds of gifts you bestow—perfect ones and otherwise. Most recently, I’d include these: the taste of grilled mango; the word of encouragement that came at just the right time yesterday; the music of Mumford and Sons, and Motown; the fresh stirrings of your Spirit in my heart; the ability to jog without achy knees; the assurance that you never get irritated with me and don’t have any regrets about saving me; hearing my grandson call me Papa as his face lights up, mid-tone hues of blue, and the hope (the many hopes) of life in the new heaven and new earth.

Father, these are just a few of the many, many gifts that come down from you all the time. What do we have that we haven’t received from you? Nothing. What gift have you given us that you don’t intend for us to enjoy and share? None. How can we live as a “kind of firstfruits of all you’ve created”? Show us. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ most generous and glorious name.