When the day is over, just before I crawl into bed, I write in my prayer journal. I write in it of the mornings as well, but the day’s end is reserved for Thank you prayers … Prayers that flow from reflection on the good and bad and mundane things of the day … Reflections that bring realization of God’s presence, protection, correction, provision and most often an awareness of His LOVE. It’s easy to thank God for all the good things He’s done or ways that I’ve witnessed His goodness; the challenge comes in seeing His goodness in the bad and mundane things of the day – but even then – when my focus is on Him thanksgiving flows free and pure. 

Occasionally, however, these bedtime prayers are not from the reflections of the day but reflections of a passage of Scripture or a lesson learned … Tonight’s prayer was an overflow of the 12th day of Christmas. On this final day the symbol we focus on is the CROSS and the name of Jesus is SAVIOR. 

The Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.  — 1 John 4:14-15

So, from tonight’s page in my journal, may you be encouraged to thank God for His LOVE …

Father, Thank You for LOVE even when I fail You. Love that sent YOUR ONLY Begotten Son to be my Savior – the Savior of all who believe — confessing that Jesus is YOUR SON. Love that hung on a cross that I might KNOW forgiveness and freedom. Love that sent YOUR SPIRIT to abide in me that I might abide in/with You. Love that Redeems and Pardons — and shows mercy and grace — LOVE that never leaves. LOVE that comforts and heals and encourages and hears my prayers even when they are whispered from my bed or spoken in a car or thought in my mind and not journaled here on these pages. Thank you for LOVE Father — I LOVE YOU TOO ❤️

On the 12th day of Christmas my TRUE LOVE gave to me … A Savior who is Christ the Lord.