This is Thanksgiving week! I am thankful for all God has done, all He is doing, and the blessings to come. We should be thankful and grateful every day. I think most of you would agree with me that the world today is chaotic and unpredictable. Sometimes life can get in the way, and we take for granted even the air we breathe. It’s always something going on and we rush around trying to make it make sense. And when it doesn’t, we have the tendency to grumble and complain. Without even realizing it, we began to grow an ungrateful heart. Every day regardless of what is going on, we must make time to be grateful and thankful to the One who makes our day possible.
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
First we should thank God for Jesus! Who else would have given up his son for us? Thank God that we are saved from the sting of death. Thank Him that no man, no situation, no devil in hell can separate us from our Lord! Thank God that through Christ we have power over the enemy. Remember to speak the words He’d have you speak, and pray you would be mindful of the enemy’s attacks.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
I know it may be difficult to maintain an attitude of gratitude when life is hard, and things seem to be falling apart. Trust and believe God has not forgotten about you. He’s always working on our behalf even if we can’t see it. Thank God for His divine plan. Thank Him for His perfect timing. Pray that He would help you trust Him more. Ask Him to help you wait patiently as He works it all out for good.
“Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” (Psalm 27:14)
Have you experienced a time when there seems to be no way out, but God came through and made a way? Thank God for His faithfulness. Thank Him for His love for you. Thank Him for all things being possible with Him. Pray that He would continue to faithfully see you through and encourage you to stay strong, trusting in the faithful Father.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
“Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.” (Psalm 36:5)
Remember to thank God for His wisdom, guidance and direction in our lives. We are so blessed to be able to consult Him, and to allow Him to direct our paths. Pray you would be sensitive to the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit in your decisions, great and small. He will help you get to the end of your journey here on Earth with as few regrets as possible.
“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.” (Proverbs 4:7)
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” (Psalm 32:8)
What a privilege we have to carry everything in prayer to our God—our hopes, dreams, worries, fears, burdens, petitions, and heartaches. Prayer is so needed and so important that Romans tells us the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf in accordance to His will when we’re unsure of what to pray. Tell God how thankful you are that He turns His ear toward you.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16:18)
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” (Romans 8:26-28)
We can do nothing in our own strength alone, but with God all things are possible. Thank Him for knowing your every need. Thank Him in advance for delivering you, comforting you, and providing for you in a way no other can. Thank Him for meeting your needs of shelter, food, clothing, warmth, clean water. Pray that He would show you how you can fill a need for someone else. Ask Him to do a work in your life so tremendous that those around you can only say, “This is surely because of God.”
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
“I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me.” (Philippians 4:13)
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
This world likes to label us and tell us who we are or who we should be. Thank God we don’t have to believe what someone else calls us or labels us. We know our real identity, who we are in Christ! Thank God that you are not what the world says you are but what He says you are.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:35-37)
“We are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him” (Romans 8:17)
God is life. He gives life. He wakes us each morning by breathing air into our lungs. He makes the blood course through our veins. Thank Him for knitting you together in your mother’s womb. Thank Him that you are His handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to live a life that honors Him, the Creator. Ask Him to help you be the proof of His love, to go out into this dark and seemingly lifeless world and shine the light of His love.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5)
Some days it may seem hopeless and look like the enemy is winning. But we know the Truth. We have read the ending in the Book of Truth. We know that we have the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! Tell God how grateful you are that there will come a day when He will wipe away our tears. Pray for a fresh touch of encouragement, reminding you of the hope you have in Him.
“He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; [4] he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelations 21:3-4)
“There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.” (Revelations 22:5)
“Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.” (Colossians 2:6-7)
Even on our worst days, there is always something to be thankful and grateful for. Focusing on those things can give us the strength to overcome and keep going on. Love and Blessings…
EMMANUEL 