O give thanks to God who is good
Whose steadfast love endures forever
O give thanks to God almighty
Whose steadfast love – for me! – endures forever
God alone does great wonders in my life
Because God’s steadfast love endures forever
God who made me and all my world
Because God’s steadfast love endures forever
God who gives me everlasting water
Because God’s steadfast love endures forever
God who brings light to my darkness
Because God’s steadfast love endures forever
God who guards my waking and sleeping
Because God’s steadfast love endures forever
God who rescued and redeemed me
Because God’s steadfast love endures forever
God who brings me through my troubled times
Because God’s steadfast love endures forever
God who is with me even in my wilderness times
Because God’s steadfast love endures forever
God who alone can remove my doubt
Because God’s steadfast love endures forever
God who alone can lift my distress
Because God’s steadfast love endures forever
God who alone can lighten my spirits
Because God’s steadfast love endures forever
God who brings me Her wisdom
Because God’s steadfast love endures forever
God sees my troubles
Because God’s steadfast love endures forever
God rescues me from my troubles
Because God’s steadfast love endures forever
God nourishes my soul
Because God’s steadfast love endures forever
O give thanks to the God of my life
Because Her steadfast love – for me – endures forever Amen

By the rivers of my distractions

I weep

I remember, long for, Your peace that passes understanding

But my joy is strangled in the branches of my despair

When I try to sing

My disquiet silences me

How can I sing of God’s goodness

When I feel forsaken and exiled, depressed and distressed

And yet, when I forget God, when I doubt God

My spirit withers

My words dry up

When I do not set God

Above all other pleasures in my life

As my greatest joy and peace

Ah, God, I know these times of disquiet

When my heart tells me to doubt Your existence

Your power, love and grace

Ah, these devastating, depressing times

I will be happy when these times are banished forever

I will know Your peace when my terrible Ds are smashed

Smashed against the reality of You. Amen

I give You thanks, O God, with my whole heart
Before all the demands of my life
I pause to sing Your praise
May that be true even when I feel too busy
Let me be grateful for my times and places of worship
Let me thank You for your steadfast love
For Your faithfulness
Let me remember
That Your name and Your Word are exalted
Above everything in my life
When I call on You, when I come crying to You
You answer me
You increase the strength, the peace of my soul
Through all the demands of my life
Let me praise you, O God, my Lady Wisdom
Let me pause to hear Your words for me
Let me sing – to myself – of Your mercy
Of Your great glory
For though You are Sovereign, almighty God
You help me, time and again
Only when I trust to my own goodness
Only when I become proud of my own knowledge
Do You seem far from me
Until I remember, again
That though I walk in the midst of trouble
You protect me and preserve my spirit
You deliver me from my troubles
You will fulfill Your purpose for me
Because Your steadfast love endures forever
Still, I cannot stop myself from pleading with You
Remember me, remember You created me
Remember me, remember You saved me
Do not forsake me. Amen

O God, You know me, my work and my play

You know my best and my worst

My most secret and my most public

You know all my ways

You know my thoughts before I speak them, even to myself

You are here, with me, through my whole life

I don’t understand it, I don’t even always believe it

But there it is

I can’t hide from You

Whether I am elated or depressed

Whether I am confident or dismayed

Whether I am filled with faith or doubt

Even when I decide You don’t exist

You lead me, You love me, You hold me fast

Even when I am sure my life will be darkness forever

Even then, I am not darkness to You

I am still bright with Your love and faithfulness

It is just that I close my eyes to You

And then think that only darkness exists

But You have been with me from my very beginning

Because of You “I am fearfully and wonderfully made”

Because You are good and I am made in Your image

I cannot make sense of eternity

I cannot understand how You know my future

And yet I have free will

I could drive myself crazy trying to figure that one out

And in the end, I come back to the wonderful mystery of You

O that You would take care of my troubles once and for all, God

You redeemed me, You saved me, once and for all

Yet still I struggle, still I try – and fail – to be good, to do good

Go ahead, God, and search me

Root out all the parts of me that cause me pain, that disappoint You

Lead me in Your truth and love, in Your everlasting way. Amen

Deliver me, O God, from my own evil

Protect me from my own violence

Keep me from unhealthy preoccupations

Keep me from anger and envy

Keep me from speaking ugliness and hurt

Please and thanks

Guard me O God, from my own wickedness

Protect me from my own violence to my spirit

The violence that traps me

In quicksand discouragement and doubt

Keep me from the trap of arrogance

Guide me away from the snares and nets

Of envy and anger, vengefulness and regret

Please and thanks

You are my God, my Lady Wisdom

So, please, hear me, answer me, deliver me

Stay inside my mind, stay in my thoughts

Do not give place to my ugly enemies

Please and thanks

Let my envy dissolve into gratitude

Let my anger burn away into compassion

Let my doubt be buried beneath faith

Let my words be generous and kind

Let my mind and heart, life and intentions

Be peaceful

I know You help the needy – and I am needy

I know You give justice for the poor

And I am poor in spirit and in faith

Lend me Your righteousness, Your wisdom

That I may give thanks to Your name

And live in Your presence. Amen