Lord, God of hosts, You have gathered us together this week around family dining rooms, community soup kitchens, and neighborhood corners, that we would bear witness to Your steadfast loving–kindness to all people. Now, in the quiet of these Chambers, we come to ask Your blessing.
For it is You who has remained beside us, guided us, and joined us in the living of our lives. You have directed our steps and ordered the work we have striven to accomplish. Like a parent, from the beginning, You have been at our side, quickening our minds to understand and correcting our failures to ensure that Your will, and not our own, would be done.
We pray that You will continue to grant us both Your defense and Your discipline as we seek to serve You. Protect us from those who wish to do evil, but, Lord, chastise us and restrain us when we are the ones who hinder Your purposes.
Nourished by moments of thankfulness we have shared and experienced this week, may we live lives, speak words, and do kindnesses that will reveal the glory of Your name and the blessing we each have received by Your grace.
May Your name be ever praised, for You forget not Your people. Amen.
It’s one thing to be grateful. It’s another to give thanks. Gratitude is what you feel. Thanksgiving is what you do.
—Tim Keller
The Interfaith Staff Prayer Room is open for congressional staff to use for personal prayer and meditation. For questions – email StaffPrayerRoom@mail.house.gov