MARKED BY GRATITUDE…
Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” – Luke 17:11-19
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I listened to her prayers tonight, and a wave of conviction blew over my distracted heart.
She’s eight.
Eight and full of untainted faith and gratitude that is foreign to this busy mama’s recent prayers. Before she thought to run down her lists of nightly requests (for the girls on her school bus to know Jesus, for healing for the always-present ouchie on her knee, for her mind not to be scared, and for our whole house to sleep tight), she stopped and loudly proclaimed back to God who He is.
She thanked Him for being the one true God.
She thanked Him for being holy.
She thanked Him for His great power that controls everything.
She thanked Him that there is no one like Him.
She thanked Him for being the King of the world.
She thanked Him for defeating death.
She thanked Him for being the One who saved her soul.
Her words were concise and matter of fact, but what she lacked in eloquence of speech she made up for with her passionate, sincere voice that preached with conviction throughout the entire upstairs of our house.
She still has a lot to learn, but this girl knows she’s nothing without Jesus. She’s confident in who her God is, and her heart’s overflow is one of gratitude for what He has done for her.
Sigh. I’m forty-two, and I have a lot to learn.
When I’m not in a hurry, she has heard me boldly proclaim these truths in our corporate prayer times together. But in the hectic routine of every day life? Often the first words that fall from my lips in my private conversations with God are not words of gratitude. I have a list of requests a mile long, an urgent schedule to keep, a host of personal and family needs to attend to, and I settle far too often for being on the taking end of my relationship with God instead of the worshipping end. Words like, “Help me, Father…” and “Lord, would You…” often trump proclamations of thanksgiving and praise.
But Lord, I long to be the one.
Like the one leper out of ten who was stopped in his tracks because of who Jesus is, I long to be the one who can be found humbly at Your feet, loudly praising You for giving me new life. I want to be so transformed by Your holiness and amazing grace that my heart is softened to become less attached to this world and more drawn towards a deeper relationship with You. I pray for a sincere heart of gratitude – one that remembers how much I have been forgiven and motivates me in such a way that my first inclination is to leave the crowd just so I can be with You. God, I want more than just what’s in it for me; I want You to receive all honor, praise, and glory that is due Your name. I want the world to see me camped out at your feet so that more might come to personally know the One who laid down His life to perform miracles – not only in ten leper’s lives – but in broken human hearts.
Because I know this forgiveness full well, Father help my life to be marked by gratitude to You.
“Never forget, you are forgiven. Embrace that truth; let it soak down deep into your heart, and let the truth change you from the inside out. Then pass it on. Being thankful for what God has done for you, do the same for others.” – Angela Perritt (You Are Forgiven, page 158)
“One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him… “
At His feet,
*Let’s Talk: Has it been awhile since you’ve thanked God for who He is? Share your prayer of gratitude in the comments below…
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This is the prayer from my SOAP for today, Lord may it be as incense going up to You, Elohim-All Powerful One, El Shaddai- All Sufficient One, This is the day that You have made and I will rejoice and be glad in it! I know Lord, that You are God and that You made me, and not me myself. I am a sheep of Your pasture. I am one of Yours. Open my eyes to times when I do not show I am thankful at all times. I know You have done a mighty work in me and I am forever grateful. Let me always give thanks for all things to You and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:20). In everything let me give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning me (1Thessalonians 5:18). Let me give thanks to the Lord for You are good, and Your mercies endure forever (Psalm 107:1). Forgive me when I am ungrateful as the 9 lepers were, let me always fall at Your feet and offer words of thanksgiving. Never let me take anything I have for granted. I know You are the Giver of all good gifts, and that even when the road is tough, I am thankful because I will never walk alone. Thank You God!! I pray this in the name of Jesus, Who is worthy of all honor, glory, praise, worship and thanksgiving. Amen
Love your prayer!
Deanna, such a great reminder. Loved it, thanks for sharing 🙂
Beautiful prayer, Deanna!
So often as a wife and mother I pray for things we need and overlook the abundant blessings in my life. Reading this today helps me to see all the things in my life i have to be thankful for everyday. I pray that I can have a more thankful heart.
Amy, it is so easy to get caught up in the now and what we need/want. I do this more than I like to admit. I need a more thankful heart. Thanks for sharing today.
It has been far too long.
Jesus, light of the world and giver of life, thank you that You laid down your life for ours. So many times I’ve come to you hurried or to somehow check off an imaginary “things I am supposed to do” list instead of seeing it as a time when I have the King of the world’s undivided attention. The one who loves us more than anything else. I rush through or forget. I take for granted the access we have to you just like the other 9 lepers did. Thank you for being faithful when I am faithless. Thank you for being not only the author, but the one who perfects my faith. Thank you for the living word we take for granted so that I can read it and know about You. And thank you for examples of faith through our own children. Amen
Jennifer thank you for your beautiful prayer and for sharing with us today.
Our Father forgive me for not having a heart filled with gratitude and a mouth filled with praise.
Thank you Lord for loving me, always being there for me. Even when others failed me Your love was steadfast and surrounded me. You are truly holy, the one true God, the great I am, my God almighty, the alpha and omega, my redeemer, my defender, my hope when I’m hopeless, my strength when I am weak.
Lord thank you for choosing me in spite of my flaws, failures, & sins. Thank you for believing in me when I can’t see my potential. Thank you for the gift You placed in me, the call on my life and the purpose You filled me with.
I am Yours Lord, thank you for accepting me into Your loving arms and never letting me go. Thank you for loving me and giving me life. Amen
Sheila, thank you for sharing such a beautiful prayer!
Dear Lord, I get so caught up in the every day rush and I forget to just thank you for all my blessings. And you have blessed me with so much. Thank you. Thank you for all you have done, all you do and your protection. Thank you for a great church family, thank you for a great earthly family (Mom, Dad, sisters, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc..), thank you for great friends who are family. Thank you for my job and for allowing me to be with someone who is such a role model of Christian faith. Thank you for always providing for me. Today I give thanks instead of asking. So, again thank you for everything that you have blessed me with. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
What a beautiful prayer, Paula!
What a day filled with beautiful songs of praise lifted up to God in prayer as incense. We serve such a magnificent God with blessings abounding in all our lives!! Thank You sweet Jesus!!
Thank you Father for all you do and all you are. You are my everything without you I’m nothing.
First time here tonight and what a wonderful devotion. I’m a full time wife, mother and have a job outside the home. My life so often feels rushed and chaotic and many times my prayers are said in the car on the way to work. I feel guilty about my short prayers always asking God for things and rarely just taking the time to give God thanks and praise. I really enjoyed what I read and was reminded that I need to make time in my busy schedule for more time with God and reflecting on who He is.
Thank you Father… For who you are! You are such a wonderful loving and forgiving God. I give you praise today! Thank you Jesus for loving me unconditionally
The reading plan with the LGG app has a flaw on the reading plan for the 4th. There is no 1 Colossians and Colossians only has four chapters so I am guessing that maybe you meant Corinthians? Not sure but you might want to fix/correct it. It only connects to an error page.
It looks like you have a great ministry here 🙂 I would LOVE to have my Bible Stories from the Heart – Adult Coloring Bible Studies used here one day! Is this possible?? I would GLADY send you free workbooks to review and give away as prizes. Each weekly lesson and coloring page could be loaded directly to this site. The coloring pages could easily be downloaded and colored by each member 🙂 I think your members would love it!!! You can see more on my Facebook group page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1447039392265675/ and on our website: biblestoriesfromtheheart.net
Please see my SOAP for my ‘Gratitude Prayers’….”Give thanks in everything for this is Christ will for You in Christ Jesus” 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Lord thank you for showing me this post tonight. As I lay in bed and think of all the things I need to do for my boys, remembering to call thme divorce lawyer, getting organized for my next nursing test, etc. it all doesn’t matter. Your holy and precious name is all that matters and should be coming out of my mouth to you. How holy and majestic you are. How thankful I am to have an unconditional loving Father like you who never hurts me in a time of desperate need. Thank you Jesus for being you.