As we do our last minute grocery shopping for the delicious Thanksgiving feast this coming Thursday, or prepare to travel to break bread and spend time with family and friends, let's remember to do so with thankful hearts.
We all know that giving thanks is something we should do every day no matter what, especially during the holiday season. But we also know giving thanks isn't always easy, especially when the busyness and stress of the holidays rob us of the peace and tranquility the Lord wants us to have. It's especially difficult to be thankful if we're going through some really tough times. But even in the midst of the stress and the challenges we face, the Lord wants us to give thanks. Not necessarily for the stress and problems we might be experiencing, but for going through them with Him, our refuge and strength. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. God is the only one who can give us the strength and the wisdom we need to get through our dark times.
If you're not going through any difficulties at the moment, praise God! If you are going through a difficult trial, praise God anyway! Begin to thank Him for the food you eat each day; for friends and family; your church home; your job, or the new one that's on the way; for the money you have in the bank; for your health; your children; your car; your home, and the breath you just took. As you begin to thank the Lord for all of these blessings, your problems will seem smaller and God will seem greater. You'll realize you're not as bad off as you thought you were, and that there's still hope. "By day the Lord directs His love, at night His song is with me - a prayer to the God of my life. ... Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God" (Psalm 42:8,11).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for all of the blessings you give us each day. Help us to remember each and every one as we travel through this journey we call life. Thank you for the holiday season, a time we can reconnect with family and friends and truly focus on you. In Jesus' name, Amen!
hope ya have a great Thankgiving
ReplyDeleteBe joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 and Be anxious about nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, submit your requests to God. Philippians 4:6
ReplyDeleteTwo great scriptures to remember this Thanksgiving season.
Many blessings,
Lisa
Hi Judy,
ReplyDeleteI have seen this scripture referenced on so many blogs. This morning during worship service, I found myself confessing to the Lord my thanks in my circumstances.
You're right, "God will seem greater" because He truely is greater than my circumstance.
Blessings and peace to you this holiday season.
MTJ
The Reformers understood that our identity in Christ was ultimately about living our lives as a sacrifice of praise. And that praise was to be fueled by thanksgiving. It is at times difficult for many of us to offer up such a unique sacrifice, but given what we know Christ has; and will do, in our lives...it is only fitting!
ReplyDeleteMany times, we need to be reminded to be thankful. That's because sometimes, we can focus on one problem--because of how insurmountable it seems--that we forget to be thankful for all of God's many blessings in our life. Regardless of what we might be going through, we don't have to look very far to find reasons to be thankful toGod.
ReplyDeleteAmen! Thank you for starting off this Thanksgiving week with exactly the right message.
ReplyDeleteThank you Judy, love the prayer. And, some of us aren't doing 'last minute shopping' some of us haven't even begun yet - yikes. But I am grateful for the ability to shop, cook and share time with family and friends.
ReplyDeleteAndie
The bigger my God, the smaller my problems.
ReplyDeleteOh, for eyes to see Him in EVERY circumstance. And to be thankful in spite of how I feel.
All things work together for good...because God is good, all the time!
Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
GOD BLESS!
I so agree. Which is another way of saying AMEN!! Gratitude is holding a tiny candle in the darkness. It light can be so far reaching. Hope you Thanksgiving is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteAnd I would like to add my Amen to your prayer of thanksgiving :-)
ReplyDeleteGod bless you Judy and have a great Thanksgiving Day
~Ron
life doesn’t always give us the joys we want.
ReplyDeletewe don’t always get our hopes and dreams, and we don’t always get our own way.
but don’t give up hope, because you can make a difference one situation and one person at a
time.look for the beauty around you—in nature, in others, in yourself—and believe in the
love of friends, family, and humankind.Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.
Amen to that prayer Judy and for the encouragement to give thanks in all circumstances.
ReplyDeleteHope you had a lovely Thanksgiving.
In answer to you question on my blog, I'm from the Bahamas.
Hi Judy, thanks for extending an invitation to visit your blog.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving! I hope you enjoyed your day.
ReplyDeleteThis is great. While you were on my blog site, I was on yours, looking at your photos and reading your posts. I will enjoy reading it from now on. I am struggling to get a picture of myself on my google account. Not sure why it won't load, so you get no picture.
ReplyDeleteLove this post, Judy! Beautiful :) Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today - I so appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteBe Blessed!
Debbie
Thank you for this lovely post and reminder! Sometimes it is hard to remember to be thankful but we have been given more than we ever deserve and then some! Beautiful blog.
ReplyDeleteHello Judy,
ReplyDeleteThis is my first time on your blog and it looks great. That was a wonderful posting for the Thanksgiving holiday that just passed. I also like that way your blog is setup and will look at the link that you have posted regarding devotional writing. It is something that I would like to get into as well. Please stop by my blog at http://godareyouhere.wordpress.com/ and tell me it if looks and flows right.
Have a blessed day and keep on writing. I will definitely comeback here and check things out
Hi Judith -
ReplyDeleteThank you for your holiday greetings and for your comments on my blog today.
Thank you for sharing this rich piece. I especially loved that you mentioned that our Lord's yoke is easy and His burden is light.
And I loved that you mentioned Psalm 42:8,11.
Yes, indeed, Judith, our hope needs to be in GOD...thank you for that rich reminder!
O give thanks to the Lord for he is good; every day, in every situation and circumstance, my soul will give thanks.
ReplyDeleteI thank God for you Judy.
God Bless.
Beverly