always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:20)

What if all we got today was what we thanked God for yesterday? I didn’t thank God for my good health yesterday; it’s gone today. I forgot to thank Him for air conditioning; now it’s kaput. I think God is too compassionate to do that to us! He remembers that we are dust (Psalm 103:14). He knows that finite creatures are incapable of thanking him for His infinite blessings.

Nevertheless, we can all develop more thankful hearts. We can expand the “thanks” part of our prayer time. Even better, we can ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to God’s blessings throughout the day and teach us to return thanks then and there. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to develop in us a new habit of continual thanksgiving, not for the purpose of getting blessings tomorrow but rather because it is right.
 
(I acknowledge with thanks a friend who brought this idea to small group a few years ago. An excellent book that will inspire you to see “small” daily blessings is One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp.)
 
Here are some other suggested prayer topics:
 
1.  Lift up the Syrian refugees who are flooding into Europe. May the Lord use His church in Austria, Germany, and elsewhere in Europe to meet the physical needs of the refugees and to minister to their souls with the gospel. 
 
2.  Pray over these upcoming events at Calvary: The Men’s Breakfast is next Saturday, September 19. Pray that those attending will be challenged and encouraged in their roles as Christian men. Our Women’s Ministry team is finishing preparations for a Beth Moore simulcast on Saturday, September 26. Women, ask the Lord if He wants you to attend and whom He might want you to invite.
 
3.  Financial Peace University kicks off on September 27 with a free preview class on September 20. Ask the Lord if this is the time and if FPU is the tool He wants to use to bring your finances under His lordship.
 
 
In Christ,
Carol Gilbert, Prayer Chair
Calvary Community Church of Brea