*The Delightful Gifts of God*
Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. (Ecclesiastes 5:18)
Father,
You are the source of every good, perfect, delightful, wonderful gift. You are the inventor of pleasure, and the creator of joy. All true pleasure comes from enjoying you, and gratefully enjoying the gifts you have given me. Satan would have me believe that you are against joy and happiness, but I know that is not true. I know that your desire for me is maximum joy and gladness in you.
Thank you for the gifts of food and drink. You could have created all food to be boring and bland. Instead you created an astonishing array of flavours, textures, and colours to delight our palettes. Creativity and joy burst forth from the thousands of different foods you have created for my enjoyment. Forgive me for my forgetful eating. Forgive me for assuming that I deserve these gifts. Forgive me for abusing these wonderful gifts. Help me to eat and drink in such a way that I bring you, wonderful Creator, maximum glory. Fill my heart with thanksgiving when I eat and drink.
Thank you for the gift of work. Although work has been cursed since the fall, work itself is not a curse, but a gift. What joy I receive from creating, nurturing, toiling, and bringing forth something from nothing. What pleasure I receive from using my hands, arms, muscles, and nerves as I toil. Help me to enjoy my work, and to see my work as a way of worshiping you. Help me to work hard, not as a way to earn praise from others, but as a way of honoring you. Thank you for the many days of life you have given me. Every new day is a precious, undeserved gift. Help me to seize each day with passion and enthusiasm, determined to bring you the most glory throughout that day. Help me to redeem each day for the glory of God. Help me to suck the maximum amount of joy from each, and in turn, give you the maximum amount of glory each day.
Amen
Praying the Promises p. 37