Topic: True Thanksgiving
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT The question on your heart may be “What am I to be thankful for?” There is a popular saying that goes like this; “If you can think, you can thank”. Gratitude, the appreciation for what we have received and all Christ have done on our behalf, will always provoke true worship. There is a story of ten men who went to have their needs met by a great man. After he had written out checks to settle their medical bills, they all left without a word of thanks. However, upon opening his envelope to see what had been given to him, one returned to show appreciation, only to have his life changed forever. In Lk 17:15-19 we see the story of the ten lepers and how the gratitude of one leper brought him into a more personal encounter with Jesus. God wants us free in our spirits to worship him and live for him. He wants us undisturbed by what is going on around us. Those things are temporal. He is eternal. 1Thess 5:16-18 helps us realize this. The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to be thankful in spite of adverse situations or challenges. He helps us realize that no matter what situation we may be currently facing, we always have something to be thankful for. PRAYER Dear Heavenly Father, I come before you this day filled with gratitude in my heart. I pray that Thanksgiving will never depart from my lips in Jesus name. Amen IS YOUR THANKSGIVING LIST READY?