WOTY: Savor
The first definition of savor in the dictionary is to taste (good food or drink) and enjoy it completely. That sounds like Thanksgiving dinner to me! But as we have learned this year, savoring is not just for good food and drink. Savoring is taking time to appreciate the good stuff in your life. One of the best ways to do that is prayer.
A heartfelt prayer is an essential element that can transform your Thanksgiving table. Regardless of the unique traditions or companions with whom you gather, Thanksgiving serves as a meaningful occasion for giving thanks and savoring upon the myriad blessings that grace our lives. It offers a precious moment to pause and contemplate the things we hold dear, while also sharing that deep sense of gratitude with God, our Father, who makes all these blessings possible.
In this atmosphere of warmth and togetherness, prayer becomes a beautiful and poignant way to articulate this thankfulness. For many guests, this may be the only time they engage in such an intimate expression of faith throughout the year, making it all the more significant. A thoughtful prayer sets the tone for the meal and connects everyone around the table in a shared appreciation of life’s gifts.
With this in mind, I have gathered some Thanksgiving prayers that you can use as they are, or as a foundation for your prayer.
Our Father, we give thanks for the time we have together to appreciate each other.
We give thanks for your presence which is shared at our table.
We give thanks for your abundant provisions.
We pray for your guidance toward paths of righteousness and wisdom.
May our conversation be joyful, edifying, and encouraging.
Strengthen us, O God, to share your good news and to serve where you call us.
We pray, humbly, in the name of Jesus, our Savior. Amen.
— Madge P. Williams
O Lord, with humble hearts we pray
Thy blessing this Thanksgiving Day
and ask that at table place,
where grateful folk say words of grace,
that Thou will come to share the yield
Thy bounty gave to farm and field.
We pray Thy love will bless, O Lord,
each hearth, each home, each festive board;
and that Thy peace will come to stay where candles glow,
Thanksgiving Day.
Brian King
Lord God,
Our hearts are crowded with gratitude
as we celebrate the feast of Thanksgiving.
We have come to this our feasting table with great joy and eagerness,
for we are truly grateful to you, our God,
for all that we have been given.
We pause now and, in silent prayer,
do thank you for the great generosity of Your gifts.
—Edward Hays
With hearts filled with gratitude,
we come before you to offer our thanks for the bounty of this
Thanksgiving feast.
We express our appreciation for
the delicious turkey, the savory gravy, and the flavorful dressing
that grace this table.
Dear Lord, as we gather around this abundant table,
we are reminded of your generosity
and the blessings that you continually pour into our lives.
Your provision sustains us,
and we are humbled by the abundance that we enjoy. Amen
"Lord God and Giver of all good gifts,
we are grateful as we pause before this meal,
for all the blessings of life that You give to us.
Daily, we are fed with good things,
nourished by friendship and care,
feasted with forgiveness and understanding.
And so, mindful of Your continuous care,
we pause to be grateful for the blessings of this table.
May Your presence be the extra taste to this meal which we eat in
the name of Your Son, Jesus."
— Edward Hays
Lord, we know without a doubt,
You'll bless this food as we pig out."
— Anonymous
"God in our waking,
God in our speaking
God in our cooking,
God in our eating,
God in our playing,
God in our digesting,
God in our working
God in our resting." — Celtic Prayer
May we join hands around the dinner table
to pray for the strength and patience to love one another.
May our circle grow with every birth and union
into a community united by love, rather than blood.
May every hardship make our circle stronger.
May it teach us that whenever we reach out in need,
our hands will always be clasped in the palms of others.
—Taz Tagore, from Seasons of Thanks
"It’s not too much food. This is what we’ve been training for our whole lives. This is our destiny, this is our finest hour.”
—Lorelai Gilmore, Gilmore Girls
Does your family have a favorite Thanksgiving Prayer? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below.
A Gift For You —Free Thanksgiving Prayer to print.
I created this printable as part of our Thanksgiving decorations. It is posted over the food table so everyone can read it as they fill their plates. This can be downloaded and framed, posted, or printed on cards and placed on your table for everyone to read together.
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