Before we pray, let's first take a moment to listen to God's word and then we'll pray together. [music] In Psalm 136:es 1:9, you hear it again [music] and again. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good.
[music] And then the reason is repeated for his steadfast love [music] endures forever. Verse after verse, the psalmist [music] keeps pointing your heart back to the same foundation. God is good and his love endures forever.
That is why Psalm 136 is often called a psalm of thanks. It does not begin by listing what you have achieved. [music] It begins with who God is.
He is the Lord. [music] He is the God of gods. He is the Lord of lords.
He alone does great wonders. He made the heavens with wisdom. [music] He spread out the earth above the waters.
He formed the great lights, the sun to rule the day and the moon and stars to rule the night. In other words, the one who keeps the universe in order is the same one who deserves your gratitude today. So when your heart feels tired or your mind feels crowded, this psalm helps you return to what is true.
[music] It tells you that praise is not only something you do when you feel strong. Praise is a choice you make because God is still God. [music] And this is the reminder you need today.
Do not let your heart become so cold [music] that you stop noticing the goodness of the Lord. It is possible to live surrounded by mercy and still become numb to it. It is possible to receive blessings so often that you begin to treat them like a normal part of life instead of a gift from God.
[music] That is why gratitude is spiritual protection. A thankful heart stays soft. A thankful heart stays aware.
[music] A thankful heart stays close to God. The Bible teaches you this clearly in 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
[music] Notice it says in all circumstances. That means gratitude is not based on comfort. [music] Gratitude is based on trust.
There are obvious reasons to give thanks. If you have food today, that is mercy. If you have water, shelter, a bed, strength in your body, and even the ability to breathe without struggling, these are big blessings.
Many people go to sleep without a safe place. Many people wake up uncertain if they will eat. When you truly listen to their stories, you realize how much you have been carried.
[music] And even when you feel like your life has problems, you can still say, "Lord, thank you for what you have kept in place. [music] Sometimes you do not notice what God is doing because you are focused on what you lack. [music] But the Lord has been sustaining you in ways you cannot measure.
Scripture confirms this in James 1:17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above coming down from the father of lights. [music] This means the good you have is not random.
It is God's kindness reaching into your life again and again. And when you forget this, it becomes easy to complain more than you praise. It becomes easy to assume you deserve what you have.
It becomes easy to lose the wonder of God's care. So today, [music] let Psalm 136 call you back. Look at the sky.
The light still shine. [clears throat] The world still turns. God is still faithful.
[music] Then the psalm teaches you that God's love is not only seen in the miracles you notice. [music] God's love is also seen in his consistency. The sun rises, [music] the night comes, seasons change, life continues.
Many times the very fact that you are still here is proof of mercy. [music] This is why another passage fits so well with this message. [music] Psalm 107:es 1:2 says, "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, [music] for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, [music] whom he has redeemed from trouble. " If God has brought you out before, [music] you have a reason to speak up. If God has forgiven you, restored you, rescued you, protected you, and kept you, you have a story of redemption.
So do not stay silent about his goodness. [music] Let the redeemed of the Lord say so. Let your mouth agree with your faith.
Let your words remind your own heart that God is still good. And if today you are carrying worry, [music] bring it to the Lord with gratitude. The Bible gives you a safe path in Philippians 4:es 6-7.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, [music] let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God will guard your hearts and your minds [music] in Christ Jesus. Thanksgiving belongs right in the middle of your prayer life [music] because it shifts your focus from fear to trust.
[music] Believer, keep your heart warm toward God. Do not become familiar with mercy [music] and forget to honor the giver today. Thank him.
Thank our father for the big things and the small things. [music] Thank him for what he has done and thank him for who he is because his steadfast love endures forever and that is more than enough for today. [music] Now let's take a moment to pray together.
[music] Heavenly Father, I thank you for your goodness toward me. Thank you for your loving kindness. [music] You are faithful and you are steady and you have never failed me.
I am safe in your hands and I am held by your love. Lord, I thank you for the gift of peace that only you can give. John 14 27 reminds me that you left your peace with me [music] and you give it to me in a way this world cannot.
So today, I choose to breathe again. [music] I choose to calm my thoughts. I choose to let my heart rest in you.
When anxiety tries to rise up, when worries try to crowd my mind, help me remember that your peace is strong enough to cover my heart, [music] my home, and my future. Let that peace guard me when I cannot control what is happening around me. >> [music] >> Father, I also hold on to what you promised in Isaiah 43:2.
You said that when I pass through waters, you will be with me. And when I go through rivers, they will not overwhelm me. You said that when I walk through fire, I will not be burned and the flame will not consume me.
Lord, [music] you did not say I would never face waters or fire, but you did promise I would never face them alone. [music] So I thank you that you are with me in the hardest places. [music] I thank you that you stay near when life feels uncertain.
King Jesus, I am grateful for the hope you have planted in me. [music] Romans 8 28 tells me that you work all things together for good for those who love you and are called according to your purpose. Sometimes I do not understand the path and sometimes I cannot see what you are doing but I choose to trust your heart.
I choose to believe that what confuses me today will make sense in your time and that all the Gentiles might hear. [music] Also, I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion and the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and [music] ever.
Lord, even if people fail me or misunderstand me, [music] I thank you that you stand with me. When I feel alone, you are still there. [music] Strengthen me the way you strengthened Paul.
Deliver me from every evil work. Preserve my life for your heavenly kingdom. Let everything I go through draw me closer to you [music] and not away from you.
My God, you are faithful. [music] Great is your faithfulness. I give you all the glory [music] and all the honor.
For you alone are worthy to receive my praise. Thank you, Father, for what you have already done in my life. [music] Thank you for what you are doing even now, in ways I can see and in ways I cannot see.
And thank you for what you are still yet to do. I know that your plans for me are good. By faith, [music] I thank you for victory.
By faith, I thank you for giving me and my family the strength to overcome every challenge [music] and every obstacle that we may face. Lord Jesus, protect us from all forms of evil. Guard us from physical harm, from spiritual deception, from emotional attacks.
Keep us grounded in truth. Father, let us not be deceived by the doctrines of this world, by lies of the enemy, or by the spirit of fear. Your word says in 2 Timothy 1:7 that you have not given us a spirit of fear, [music] but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
[music] I receive that today. Lord, give me wisdom to discern and navigate through the evil that is in this world. Help me to follow your word [music] and to act in obedience to your perfect will.
[music] Where there is anything in my life that does not please you, remove it. [music] Snuff out any desire, habit, thought, or influence that seeks to corrupt me. I refuse and rebuke any spirit that is not from you.
I rebuke every spirit that seeks to disturb my peace or hinder me from seeking you. Drve out any darkness, any unclean thing from my home. Let your pure and holy light shine into every corner of my life.
[music] Your word tells me in John 10 verse 10 that the enemy comes only to steal, kill, and destroy, but you, Lord Jesus, [music] came that I may have life and have it more abundantly. I choose your life. In you there is fullness of joy.
[music] In you there is protection, freedom and [clears throat] hope. Help me to put on the whole armor of God as it says in Ephesians 6:es 10 to 11. [music] Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.
Put on the whole armor of God [music] that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Teach me to stand prepared, covered in truth, [music] righteousness, faith, salvation, and your word. I look to you to be my shield and my defense [music] because all authority belongs to you.
At your voice, every demon trembles. In your presence, no other power can stand. No matter what doubts or thoughts the enemy tries to plant in my heart, [music] nothing can take away my hope because my hope is in you.
Nothing can take away the promise of eternal life that I have in Christ. Lord Jesus, I desire to be in your arms. Hold me when I am weak.
Calm my heart when I am anxious. Steady my steps when I feel uncertain. [music] Thank you, God, for your protection.
Thank you for your faithfulness that never fails. Thank you for listening to this prayer [music] and for moving on my behalf according to your will and in your perfect timing. In Jesus' name I pray, [music] amen.
[clears throat] If this prayer has touched your heart, please type [music] amen as a sign of faith. I pray that every blessing in this prayer is now upon you in the name of Jesus. [music] And if you need a special prayer, feel free to let us know in the comments.
We would be honored to pray for you. May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always.
