Reflection: Forever-focus
Lest we get cute or flippant or presumptuous in saying grace, it’s in this big-picture, future-grace throne room that we take off our shoes today. A place where our covenant-keeping, rescuing and sustaining King will live with his people forever. Be sure that of the righteousness, goodness and mercy that we, his family, have tasted…there is more. And it’s on offer for the whole world.
When this scenario shapes our world view, faith breeds joy, joy shapes our praise, and thanks can’t help but course through our veins. The heavens are reverberating with our saying grace. Imagine that!
In this scenario we also yearn for our hungry world. Continue, sovereign Lord, to draw the famished to your feast of grace. Imagine nations on their knees, worshipping him in unison.
Prayer:
[pray or sing]
Be present at our table Lord.
Be here and everywhere adored.
These mercies bless and grant that we
may feast in fellowship with thee. (hymn by John Cennick)
In the sense that saying grace is just prayer, our Father is, of course, attentive to our any words—even wordlessness. But walking in his company in grooves (habits) of prayer is also rich. That’s why, through centuries, we’ve worn the pages of prayer books and hymn books, said the prayers of our childhood, sung the graces of Sunday School and Beach Mission. Why not hone those graces into a treasury to practice and pass down.
Simply, for example:
God of love and grace,
Take my overflow of praise.
With thanks I marvel at who you are,
I treasure what you’ve done,
And I trust in what you’ll do,
For your eternal glory,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Or, for example:
I’m needy…but you, God, are full of righteous love and grace.
Each thing I have is from your loving hand.
I’ve seen your grace glimmer today when…
Today I’m reminded of this deep and eternal blessing through Jesus: …
I’m restored…because you treasure and forgive me.
Disturb and convict me of my brokenness and sin today: … [pause]
Refresh me in your profound grace through Jesus’ sacrifice
And put me at rest in your ravishing love.
I’m grateful…because you fill me with your Spirit.
Nourish and satisfy me now and into eternity.
Draw many more famished to your feast of grace. [in particular…]
That we all may spill in effusive thanks and praise, to your glory.
THANK YOU!
COLLECTION OF GRACES HERE SAID AND SUNG
1.
All good gifts around us are sent from heav’n above;
Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord for all His love.
(chorus of hymn We plough the fields, and scatter by Matthias Claudius)
- [to the tune of Fairest Lord Jesus]
Toi, qui dispose
De toutes choses
Et nous les donne chaque jour,
Recois, O pere,
Notre priere
De reconnaissance
Et d’amour
(translation)
You who are sovereign over all things and give them to us each day,
Receive, O Father! Our prayer of gratitude and love. (author unknown)
- [to the old tune of O for a thousand tongues]
The lions’ young may hungry be
And they may lack their food
But they that wait upon the Lord
Shall not lack any good. (Psalm 34:10)
4.
We give Thee but Thine own,
Whate’er the gift may be;
All that we have is Thine alone,
A trust, O Lord, from Thee. (hymn by William W. How)
5.
Give thanks with a grateful heart
give thanks to the Holy One
give thanks because he’s given
Jesus Christ, his Son
And now let the weak say, ‘I am strong’
Let the poor say, Í am rich
because of what the Lord has done…’ (song by Henry Smith)
6.
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen (Doxology by Thomas Kenn)
7.
Father, may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
Give us each day the food we need,
and forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation. (Luke 11:2-4 NLT)
[Sing, and repeat]
[Yours is] the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son;
endless is the vict’ry [you] o’er death [have] won.
(or in the original French):
À toi la gloire, O Ressuscité!
À toi la victoire pour l’éternité! (hymn by Edmond Budry)
8.
Sweet is the work, my God, my King,
To praise your name, give thanks, and sing,
To show your love by morning light,
And talk of all your truth at night. (verse 1, hymn by Isaac Watts)
9.
For [your] daily mercies, be [your] name adored.
More than all we thank [you] for [yourself], O Lord. (song by Frank Houghton)
10.
How I praise [you], precious Savior,
That [your] love laid hold of me;
[You have] saved and cleansed and filled me
That I might [your] channel be.
Chorus:
Channels only, blessed Master,
But with all [your] wondrous pow’r Flowing through us,
[You can] use us Every day and every hour.
(verses 1,5 and chorus of hymn by Mary E. Maxwell)
God of all seasons,
the sun has set, the night has gathered in,
my soul sinks slowly into your rest,
trusting now in the resurrection to come. Amen (Compline by Pete Greig)
O God, I am as one hungry for rice,
parched as one thirsty for tea.
Fill my so empty heart. Amen. (a Chinese prayer)
For what we are about to receive,
may the Lord make us truly thankful. (an Anglican prayer)
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we …give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer)
Oh give thanks to the LORD for His love endures forever!
We were wandering and lost, and our Father brought us home
To a safe dwelling place, to a feast of joy and laughter
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
(chorus of song by Wendell Kimbrough)
Be present at our table Lord.
Be here and everywhere adored.
These mercies bless and grant that we
may feast in fellowship with thee. (hymn by John Cennick)
Amidst this universal jubilee of nature, do not allow, I ask you, the sons of men to be silent; but let the noblest work of your creation [offer] you the noblest sacrifice of praise. Pour your grace into my heart, so that I may worthily magnify your great and glorious name. You have made me and sent me into the world to do your work. Assist me to fulfill the end of my creation, and to show forth your praise with all diligence, by giving myself up to your service. “Prosper the work of my hands upon me,” O Lord; prosper whatever I shall undertake this day, that it may tend to your glory, the good of my neighbour, and the salvation of my own soul. (John Wesley)
Through you, Jesus, we who were empty,
now celebrate hearts full and running over.
We who were starving,
by grace, are feasting on your salvation, rich and free.
For that overflowing grace, a gift too wonderful for words,
here’s our heartfelt and open-handed thanks. (2 Corinthians 14b-15, my paraphrase)
Give us attentive eyes and understanding minds
to your shafts of grace in your world, merciful Father.
Fuel us with daily mercies so we can focus our forever-worship on you.
Give insight to light-seekers today.
May they be drawn from your gifts to the Giver and turn to worship you.
Grace. It’s all grace! [name a few of today’s particular gifts of grace]
Creator of teeming heaven, earth and sea
We marvel at you and your sustaining gifts of rain and fruitful seasons.
Satisfy our bodies today with food and shelter and our hearts with joy.
To your insatiable world, permitted to walk in our own ways,
Gracious Lord, grant reverence and spiritual hunger for you.
And oh, satisfy us to our core, the way you made us to be.
Teach and nurture us to be daily satisfied in you
Again, and again, and again.