From A Simple Book of Prayers
Bearing the Fruit of Righteousness
(Thanksgiving)
O Lord, I am deeply grateful for Your wonderful acts, for Your abundant promises, and for the gift of my relationship with You through the merits of Christ.
Surely the Lord’s hand is not too short to save,
Nor His ear too dull to hear.
But our iniquities have separated us from our God;
Our sins have hidden His face from us so that He will not hear.
Yet the Lord saw that there was no one to intervene;
So His own arm worked salvation for Him.
(Isaiah 59:1–2, 16)
Take a moment to express your gratitude for the many blessings that you have received from the Lord.
“My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, nor lose heart when you are rebuked by Him, for whom the Lord loves He disciplines.” (Hebrews 12:5–6)
God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful; later on, however, it produces the peaceable fruit of righteousness for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:10–11)
Lord, I praise You for Your faithfulness and thank You for the powerful ministry of Jesus. I thank You for making me alive to You. May I respond well to Your discipline and bear the peaceable fruit of righteousness.