Week 6: Finding Gratitude

 Psalm 100 - “We Are His People, the Sheep of His Pasture" 

 Read this slowly: 

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the lands! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the LORD is God! It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him, bless his name! For the LORD is good; his merciful love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

REFLECT (Reread it): 

 • This is a psalm of pure joy and gratitude. Even if you're beginning to pray, there are things to be grateful for. 

 • What does “make a joyful noise" mean to you? Does joy in prayer feel natural or awkward? 

 • “It is he that made us, and we are his." How does it feel to hear that you belong to God? Comforting? Strange? Hard to believe? 

 • “Enter his gates with thanksgiving." What are you genuinely grateful for right now—even in the midst of struggle?

 • This psalm was sung by people entering the Temple—coming home to worship. Where is "home" for you spiritually? Have you found it yet, or are you still searching?

RESPOND (Talk to God):

If you're feeling grateful: Tell God specifically what you're thankful for. Make a list—out loud or in your heart. Your health, family, and home. A friend who showed up when you needed them. The fact that you're here, praying, seeking. 

If you're struggling to feel grateful: That's okay. Be honest: “God, this psalm is about joy, but I don't feel joyful right now." “I want to be thankful; God can handle your honesty. Bring what you have, even if it's not overflowing gratitude. But I'm struggling. Help me see what's good." 

 If you're feeling like you don't belong: Tell Him: “The sheep imagery is nice, but I don't feel part of the flock." God meets you in that honesty, too.

Now, simply rest. 

 You don't need more words. You don't need to produce insights or feelings. Just sit in reality: 

 • You were made by God 

 • You belong to God 

 • God's merciful love endures forever 

 • God is faithful 

 Repeat quietly in your heart (or out loud): 

 "The LORD is good." 

 "His merciful love endures forever." 

 "I am his."

A Prayer for Week 6

Lord, After six weeks of seeking, questioning, listening, and learning, I come to this final psalm with whatever gratitude I can muster. 

Some days, thanksgiving flows easily. Other days, I have to search for it. 

 Help me to know—really know—that I belong. That I'm not an accident. That You made me, and I'm Yours. 

 Thank You for meeting me in these ancient words. 

Thank You for being patient with my questions. Thank You for Your merciful love that endures even when my faith wavers. 

 Teach me to make a joyful noise—imperfect, unrehearsed, but genuine. 

 Teach me to enter Your gates with thanksgiving, recognizing that gratitude is the path home. 

 And most of all, help me remember: I'm Your sheep, and You're my shepherd. 

 I don't have to find the way on my own. I just have to follow Your voice. 

 Thank You for these six weeks. Thank You for this journey. 

Thank You for meeting me here. 

 Amen

Want to Pray But Don't Know Where to Start?

Have you ever wanted to pray but didn't know where to start?

Maybe you've tried praying before but felt like you were doing it "wrong." Or you're genuinely curious about faith but don't know how to take that first step. Or perhaps you grew up praying but somehow stopped along the way, and now it feels awkward—even a little embarrassing—to start again.

I get it. Prayer can feel intimidating.

For years, I knew about prayer. I'd heard of various prayer practices, including something called Lectio Divina, which kept coming up in Catholic circles. But honestly? I had no real idea what it actually was or how to do it. It sounded mysterious, maybe even a little complicated—like something for monks or "serious" Catholics, not regular people like me.

Then came January 2021. My wife and I spent a couple of months in Florida during the winter—kind of testing out what would become our new home. I came across an online Lenten retreat offered by the Diocese of St. Petersburg: "Praying Scripture for a Change: An Introduction to Lectio Divina."

That retreat changed everything for me. This ancient prayer practice—one that seemed so mysterious before—suddenly made complete sense. It wasn't complicated at all. It was just a beautiful, simple way to let Scripture speak directly to your heart.

Over the next couple of weeks, I want to share this practice with you. Whether you're a complete beginner to prayer or someone who's been at it for years but feels stuck, I think you'll find something life-giving here.

Let me show you how to start. 

Follow and stay tuned more to come.

#Prayer #Spirituality #Faith #CatholicFaith #Seeking