Healing Rays of Righteousness

On the tombstone of her husband’s grave, a southern mountain woman had chiseled in rough and uneven letters this epitaph, “He always appreciated.” I hope the same tribute can be said about us after our deaths. We can begin by praying Psalm 145 together as a family gathered around the table on Thanksgiving Day.

I edited the NIV version of Psalm 145 so that it can be read as a family prayer with a leader praying the words in italic print and the family responding with praying the words in bold print. May it bless your mealtime and fellowship with sincere gratitude toward the Lord God who is “rich in love.”

PRAYER FOR THANKSGIVING DAY

I exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.
Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.

O Lord, you are great and most worthy of praise; your greatness no one can fathom.
One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.

They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I meditate on your wonderful works.
They tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds.
They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

You, O Lord, are gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.
O Lord, you are good to all; you have compassion on all you have made.

All your works praise you, Lord; your faithful people extol you.
They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might,
so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations.

You, O Lord, are trustworthy in all your promises and faithful in all you do.
O Lord, you uphold all who fall and lift up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.
You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

You, O Lord, are righteous in all your ways and faithful in all you do.
O Lord, you are near to all who call on you, to all who call on you in truth.
You fulfill the desires of those who fear you; you hear their cry and save them.

O Lord, you watch over all who love you, but all the wicked you will destroy.
My mouth speaks in praise of you, O Lord.
Let every creature praise your holy name forever and ever.

Amen. Amen.

Hymn

“For the Beauty of the Earth”

For the beau-ty of the earth, for the glo-ry of the skies,
For the love which from our birth O-ver and a-round us lies,
Lord of all, to Thee we raise This our hymn of grate-ful praise.

For the won-der of each hour Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flow’r, Sun and moon, stars of light,
Lord of all, to Thee we raise This our hymn of grate-ful praise.

For the joy of hu-man love, Broth-er, sis-ter, par-ent, child;
Friends on earth, and friends a-bove; For all gen-tle tho’ts and mild;
Lord of all, to Thee we raise This our hymn of grate-ful praise.

For Thy Church that ev-er-more Lift-eth ho-ly hands above,
Of-fering up on ev-ery shore Her pure sac-ri-fice of love,
Lord of all, to Thee we raise This our hymn of grate-ful praise.

For Thy-self, best gift div-ine, To the world so free-ly giv-en;
For that great, great love of Thine, Peace on earth and joy in heav-en;
Lord of all, to Thee we raise This our hymn of grate-ful praise.

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – November 25, 2020
http://www.geigler13.wordpress.com
Ray M. Geigley