Starting and Ending Strong: The Power of Taking Time Out for Thanksgiving
And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer: and Bakbukiah the second among his brethren, and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. (Nehemiah 11:17).
When life feels heavy, one of the first things I do is pray. I lay it all out before God—the stress, the needs, the concerns—and ask for His help. But if I’m honest, sometimes I get so focused on what I need that I forget to pause and say, “Thank You.”
That’s why this little verse tucked away in Nehemiah stood out to me. It’s one of those name-heavy scriptures we might be tempted to skip over—but there's a gem buried in there. Mattaniah was the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer. His job was to start things off with gratitude. What a powerful role that is!
In the time of Nehemiah, priests were given the special responsibility of offering thanksgiving to God in the morning and again in the evening. That rhythm—starting and ending the day with gratitude—really speaks to me. Because let’s face it, mornings can be chaotic. I know mine can be, especially when kids are asking for things before I’ve even finished my coffee. But when I slow down and take even a few moments to give thanks, the whole day feels different. The tone shifts. My heart shifts.
What’s beautiful is that we don’t need a priest to do that for us. Through Jesus, we have direct access to God. You and I can come before Him with our own song of thanks—morning, noon, or night. We can shape our days with thanksgiving, not just when life is good, but especially when it's hard. Gratitude helps us see God's hand even in the mess.
So let’s make it a practice—bookending our days with thanksgiving. A quiet word of thanks in the morning. A whispered praise at night. Those little moments make a big difference.
A Prayer to Begin and End with Thanksgiving
Lord,
Thank You for waking me up this morning and walking with me through the day.
Help me to take time—real time—to give thanks to You.
Let my mornings start with Your goodness and my nights end with Your faithfulness.
Keep me mindful that gratitude is powerful and life-giving.
Thank You for the gift of access to Your presence through Jesus.
In His name I pray,
Amen.
Before You Go
Try this simple habit today: Pause in the morning for just one minute and thank God for something—anything. Then tonight, before bed, do it again. It’s a small thing, but over time, it’ll transform how you move through life.
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Gracious Heavenly Father,
I come before you with a heart full of thanksgiving. Thank you for your unfailing mercies, renewed for me with each new morning. Your marvel and majesty leave me in awe, and I acknowledge the holiness of your name. I express my thanks for all your incredible works and deeds, and I'm especially thankful for being embraced by the warmth of your role as a good, good Father.
In the name of Christ Jesus, I pray, Amen.
