Giving thanks in everything

A prayer at the end of a thanksgiving service for an aged care provider

The Bible says that Christians are to, “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Th. 5:18NIV). And those who are filled with God the Holy Spirit will be “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 5:20). We can give thanks in everything because God is in control and He is always with those who trust in Him. That’s why each November we publicly honor God and thank Him for the work done through our organization over the past year.

Let’s pray, Father God we acknowledge that you are the powerful being who created the universe and life and people. Your workmanship is marvellous – your creation is wonderfully complex (Ps. 139:14). As the supreme one all glory, majesty, power and authority are yours in the past, the present and the future (Jude 1:25).

And we give thanks with grateful hearts because you’ve given Jesus Christ as the savior of the world. By trusting in His unique sacrifice, we can have a sure foundation to weather the storms of life. We thank you for the assurance of knowing that your love endures forever (Ps. 136) and you give us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:57).

We thank you for the opportunity to provide loving Christian care for residents in our retirement villages and aged care facilities. We thank you for all our staff and their acts of kindness and service over the past year. We thank you for the generous contributions from our volunteers, including the Ladies Auxiliary. And we thank you for the opportunity to serve all our residents and support their families. May they feel secure and at home in our facilities and may they be sustained by God’s great power and comforted by the Father’s love shown through Jesus Christ.

The past year has been difficult for many of us. But Lord, you have been with us, providing our needs and sustaining us. We have sung, “through the deepest valley you will lead”. Help us to trust in your love and power day by day through our prayers, reading what you say in the Bible and thinking about how that applies to our circumstances. Because our “hope is only Jesus”, we have sung, “we shall overcome”, but not through our effort, “but through Christ in us”.

And when we are going though trials and despair, or grief and loss, and it seems to be a hopeless situation, help us realize the power of our Christian faith. We have a God who listens, saves and offers eternal life. His promises can give hope and lift us out of despair. As Habakkuk said when Israel was devasted by the Babylonians, “yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The sovereign Lord is my strength!” (Hab. 3:18-19). Help us look at the big picture of how you are working towards a world where there is peace and justice and we can be with you forever.

And “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you [us] all” (2 Cor. 13:14) now and forever more. Amen.

Posted, November 2025

Also see: A thanksgiving prayer