O God, we give thanks to you! We proclaim how great you are and tell of the wonderful things you have done.   Psalm 75:1

I kept a book of prayers that I’ve written. The book is nothing fancy — a small spiral notebook, rather frayed. I wrote in it prayer requests and thanks to God. I began doing this about 10 years ago when I read a book on prayer. The author suggested that we record our prayers as a method of increasing our focus and intent. I write prayers on matters that concern and worry me, and I write a list of special blessings and pleasant surprises for which I am thankful.  If I’m honest, I have to admit that my requests far outnumber my prayers of thanksgiving. I tend to list my petitions more than I recount God’s wondrous deeds. I personify the 10 lepers all by myself (Luke 17), giving thanks perhaps once for every nine times I take God’s blessings for granted.

 Now as I read back over my prayers that expressed fear and worry, I realize that God has addressed each one. Sometimes my prayers were answered as I had hoped. At other times, God blessed me with an unexpected answer. Some of my prayers are still unanswered. For each prayer I’ve written, God has touched me with love, mercy, and compassion.

Dear God, teach us to live in ways that express thanksgiving and praise. Amen.