Throughout the year, we present an article in the bulletin each week on a variety of topics, written by a member of our Parish staff or ministries on a rotating basis.

Giving Thanks For All Things

by Corey Shorter, Coordinator of Inclusion, Diversity, & Equity

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

“Rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Just a few weeks ago I was having a good conversation about prayer with my family and when I began to think about it most of our prayers start off and end with asking God for certain things. Those requests are typically material things. So one day I began to think about my personal relationship with God and I realized that most of my prayers start and end with what I want instead of asking God what he wants from me. When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane asking God “…if there was any way to take this cup from me”, meaning that if there was any other way to save the world besides the cross could he do it? And ultimately he said, “Father, not my will, but your will be done.”  Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for everyone to have a chance at eternal life. Sometimes we can become so consumed with our busy lives that we forget to simply give God Thanks. Sometimes we forget to thank God for the little things like making it home safely every night and waking up in the morning. Scripture says in Psalms

“Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

Thank You God!