A Prayer For Help

"Heavenly Father, when I come to the end of my rope, my strength, myself, I'm finally open to the help you offer. Teach me then, God, the basics of prayer, like 'help', 'please', and 'thank you'. In the name of Jesus, amen."

-Heidelberg Catechism

A Prayer For Thanksgiving by Dr. Peter Marshall

A prayer for Thanksgiving:

Lord God of Heaven, Who hath so lavishly blessed this our beloved land, make us, Thy people, to be humble. Keep us ever aware that these things have come from Thee, and that Thou has lent them to us. Impress upon our smugness the knowledge that we are not owners but stewards, and remind us, lest we become filled with conceit, that one day a reckoning will be required of us. Sanctify our love of country, that our boasting may be turned into humility and our pride into a ministry to all men everywhere. Teach us that Thou dost love them as well as us, and make America thy servant, Thy chosen channel of blessing to all lands, lest we be cast out, and our place be given to another. Make this God's country by making us willing to live like God's people.

Dr. Peter Marshall
December 12, 1946

A Prayer of Thanksgiving

"Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen." - (Book of Common Prayer)

Thanksgiving: Matthew Henry

Be Particular in your Thanks to God, Marvel at His Good Nature and Kind Providence
I must be particular in my thanksgivings to God:

2.1

For the discoveries that he has made to me in his word of the goodness of his nature.

I give thanks to the God of gods, to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:2-3(ESV)

Your goodness is your glory, Exodus 33:19(ESV) and it is for that which all your works do give thanks to you and all your saints do bless you. Psalm 145:10(ESV)

You are gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, Psalm 145:8(ESV) and have told me that you do not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men; but though you cause grief, you will have compassion according to the abundance of your steadfast love. Lamentations 3:32-33(ESV)

You take pleasure in those who fear you, in those who hope in your steadfast love. Psalm 147:11(ESV)

2.2

For the many instances of his goodness.

2.2.1

The goodness of his providence relating to my body and the life that now is; and this,

1st, With reference to all the creatures and the world of mankind in general.

You have stretched out the heavens like a tent, Psalm 104:2(ESV) and in them you have set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Psalm 19:4-5(ESV) And you make your sun rise on the evil and on the good, and send rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:45(ESV)

When I look at the heavens, the work of your fingers, the sun, the moon, and the stars which you have set in place, Lord, what is man that you care for him? Psalm 8:3-4(ESV) For truly the light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun: Ecclesiastes 11:7(ESV) All glory be to the Father of light, James 1:17(ESV) who commands the morning and causes the dawn to know its place. Job 38:12(ESV)