This is day 14 of our 27 day gratitude and prayer guide in preparation for Thanksgiving. You can download the entire 27-day Give Thanks and Pray guide here.
Day 2: Reflect on James 1:17
On a sheet of paper or in a journal, write as much of James 1:17 as you can remember.
What does James 1:17 say about who our abilities and possessions ultimately belong to?
Read the verses immediately before our passage, James 1:13-16. What does it say about focusing more on the gifts God has given than on God, the giver of those gifts? Write your answers on the paper or journal you wrote James 1:17 down on.
Offer prayers of confession and Thanksgiving
Preparation for prayer:
Write your answers on your paper or journal to the following:
Are there gifts God has given you that you tend to focus on as belonging to you, or that you forget to recognize that they came from God?
What gifts have you received from God that you can thank Him for?
Offer up prayers of confession and thanksgiving
You can use the following as a guide
Father, I confess that too often, I take credit for the gifts that you have given me. I take pride in my abilities or my possessions and begin to think of myself more highly because of them. I confess too that I do not use your gifts well. Give me a heart of repentance, that I may recognize that you are the one behind all that I have and that I may glorify you in how all my gifts are used.
I thank you for these gifts that you have given. I thank you that you entrust me with the use of these things. I thank you for your grace when I fail to do so, and I thank you for your Spirit who can guide me in the stewardship of what you provide. These gifts are yours. Use me as I use them for you.
I am grateful for your unchanging nature and for the word of truth you gave among your gifts. Thank you for the gift of life through your son, through whom I pray today. Amen.