Lord Jesus,

As Thanksgiving approaches, we know that there’s a lot of noise that can distract us from You. Gatherings, tasks, and traditions can easily become our focus this week instead of You, which is why we are asking for Your favor and strength to keep the main thing the main thing: seeking first Your kingdom and Your righteousness. Everything else is not necessary or important. Expectations and schedules and stress are not You nor what You promise us when we seek You first; rather, You add good, pure, and heavenly gifts to us like the fruit of Your Spirit. Therefore, we take up the armor of God to stand firm against the enemy. We put on the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the shield of faith, the sword of the Spirit, and our feet are fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of Peace. I pray the Lord’s strength into our legs to stand firm in the Word and to not let the truth be stolen from us. I dismantle all assignments of the enemy against Your children, and I call forth songs of deliverance over each one of us. Let us rejoice always, Lord! Remove any hindrances to rejoicing in Your goodness and mercy and beauty! Let thankfulness flow from us in greater amounts this week and nourish those around us. Give us a refreshing of Your Spirit and allow us to be witnesses of Your love. In Jesus’s Name, Amen!

Scripture references:

Luke 10:38-42- Martha was so focused on being a good host for Jesus and the others that she missed out on the better choice of listening to what Jesus had to say.

Mark 7:1-22; Matthew 23:13-30; Matthew 15:1-9- traditions can hinder us and others from walking in the commandments of the Lord. The Pharisees added their own traditions onto God’s law, which made His law of no effect. As New Covenant believers, we are to walk in the law of the Spirit and not in the law of Moses because Jesus fulfilled the law of Moses (i.e., the law of sin and death). Now, believers are commanded to walk in the law of the Spirit, which is to love God with all of our hearts, souls, and minds, and to love our neighbors as ourselves (see Romans 8:2; Matthew 22:36-40).

Proverbs 12:2; 1 Samuel 2:26; Luke 1:30; 2:52; Daniel 1:9- a good man obtains favor from the Lord. Samuel, Mary, Jesus, and Daniel obtained favor from God.

Psalm 28:7-8; Isaiah 41:10- God gives us strength.

Matthew 6:33- seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness and it will be added to us.

James 1:17- every good and perfect give comes from above from the Father of lights.

Galatians 5:22-23- the fruit of the Spirit.

Ephesians 6:10-18- the armor of God.

Psalm 32:7- the Lord surrounds us with songs of deliverance.

1 Thessalonians 5:16, 18- believers are to be thankful and to rejoice always.