A Puritan Prayer of Thanksgiving

I own a devotional titled The Valley of Vision – A collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotion (ed. Arthur Bennett.) The collection are extracts from *Puritan literature and represent the Puritan character and lifestyle which was centered on the practice of prayer and meditation.

Often I would reach for this collection during my morning devotions or when I need a quiet meditation moment as I find the depth of spiritual fervor and vulnerability expressed in these prayers both inspirational and encouraging. 

This volume is not meant to be used as a prayer manual. Our prayers should be offered out of our own craving for GOD and personal petitions. We learn to pray simply by praying often and communicating our own thoughts and desires to our heavenly Father, our GOD and Shepherd who has a unique purpose for each of our lives.  

However, in the spirit of the Season, I am sharing the following Praise and Thanksgiving prayer in hopes that it would inspire you to greater heights of gratitude to our Creator, as it does me.

We have so much for which to be grateful this Thanksgiving, and daily!

O MY GOD,

Thou fairest, greatest, first of all objects, my heart admires, adores, loves thee, for my little vessel is as full as it can be, and I would pour out all that fullness before thee in ceaseless flow.

When I think upon and converse with thee ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up, ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed, ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart, crowding into every moment of happiness.

I bless thee

for the soul thou hast created,

for adorning it, sanctifying it, though it is fixed in barren soil;

for the body thou hast given me,

for preserving its strength and vigour,

for providing senses to enjoy delights,

for the ease and freedom of my limbs,

for hands, eyes, ears that do thy bidding;

for thy royal bounty providing my daily support,

for a full table and overflowing cup,

for appetite, taste, sweetness,

for social joys of relatives and friends,

for ability to serve others,

for a heart that feels sorrows and necessities,

for a mind to care for my fellow-men,

for opportunities of spreading happiness around,

for loved ones in the joys of heaven,

for my own expectation of seeing thee clearly.

I love thee above the powers of language to express, for what thou art to thy creatures.

Increase my love, O my GOD, through time and eternity.

*The Puritan religious movement took place in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.