So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7
“Teach Me Gratitude
Holy Spirit,
open my heart
to understand how precious I am to you,
how loved I am by you.
Open the eyes of my soul,
to see the gifts you have put before me this day.
Give me the grace to recognize each encounter with you.
Teach me to respond in gratitude, to grow in gratitude.
Teach me to be generous, as you are generous with me,
and to collaborate with you in serving my sister and my brother
for your greater glory.”
Rebecca Ruiz in “Teach me Gratitude”.
My word for the year is gratitude so I prayed about where to start my Lenten journey in which I hope to deepen my roots in Christ, and the Lord ask God to teach me gratitude.
I found it very interesting the connection between gifts, grace, gratitude, and generosity. I like this prayer highlights it. God gives gifts, showers grace, teaches us gratitude, and then comes generosity.
Father, thanks for your many gifts. Give us grace to recognize them by your Spirit and fill me with gratitude for them. Then grow rich generosity in me from a thankful heart I pray in Jesus name. Amen.
And bless my dad today. Jack Hoag is 84. Lavish him with gifts, pour out grace, teach him gratitude, and help this next year be his most generous year yet. Happy Birthday Dad.