WITH THANKSGIVING
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
What is the state of your heart this Monday before Thanksgiving? Is it a heart that is rejoicing because the Lord has completed the good work He began? Is it a heart that is thankful for the glimpses of God’s work on the other side of your mountain? Is it a heart that is at peace because of the Lord’s blessed hand of protection and providence in your life? I hope and pray that it is all of these and more.
Holidays are tough for standers. No doubt about that. Whose house are we going to go to this year? Or will we be celebrating? Where will the kids be and what will they do? Whose table will my beloved be sitting at this year? What was once a season filled with family and good-will and joy can be a season of loneliness and heartache and doubt. But it doesn’t have to be that way. We can make this season be anything we want it to be if we will just lean on the Lord and press into His Word.
I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me. I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:29-30
Praising the Lord and being thankful in the midst of our pain and heartache isn’t an easy thing to do. It doesn’t come naturally. It’s something we have to make a conscious effort at. But it is the way to find peace and comfort when everything around us is in chaos and disarray, when we’re surrounded by doubters and overcome by circumstances, when we are weary and want to surrender. When we lift our voices in praise, with grateful hearts and with thanksgiving, the Lord comes and surrounds us with His supernatural peace. He reaches down for us with His nail-scarred hands and says, “My peace I give to you.â€
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.†John 14:27
“The LORD will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.†Isaiah 51:3
I have been through many Thanksgivings without the one I pray for. Has it been easy? No. There were many times when I found it very difficult to be thankful. Sometimes there were situations or circumstances where I was sitting back and saying, “God, what ARE you doing?†But then I would recall the scripture in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 where His Word says, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.†And I could always find something to be thankful for, something to praise.
Take just a moment, right now, to make a list of all the things for which you can be thankful. Have you drawn closer to the Lord during this walk? Have you been able to forgive supernaturally or love unconditionally? Has your stand and your faith made a difference in someone else’s life? Have you been able to see the Lord’s hand in the details of your life? Have you been the recipient of some of the Lord’s quiet miracles? Have you felt His loving hand on your heart as you faced circumstances you never thought you would or could? All of these things are God’s loving heart on the move in your life. And for that we need to be thankful.
Abba Father, we come before you today and every day with thanksgiving and praise. You have shown Yourself faithful to us time and time again. You are our blessed protector, defender, refuge and strength. You are our source of comfort. When the world around us is falling apart, You are there with encouragement and promises. We are thankful for the task You have set before us and pray that we can be good stewards of all You have blessed us with. We pray that You will move the mountain of circumstances that are blocking every prodigal to surrender their life to You and then they can return to their waiting loved ones. Lord, rout the enemies and set our loved ones free, quickly. With thanksgiving in our hearts and praise on our lips, we bow before You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:4-5
God bless,
Kim, a stander in Nebraska
Read about me
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
What is the state of your heart this Monday before Thanksgiving? Is it a heart that is rejoicing because the Lord has completed the good work He began? Is it a heart that is thankful for the glimpses of God’s work on the other side of your mountain? Is it a heart that is at peace because of the Lord’s blessed hand of protection and providence in your life? I hope and pray that it is all of these and more.
Holidays are tough for standers. No doubt about that. Whose house are we going to go to this year? Or will we be celebrating? Where will the kids be and what will they do? Whose table will my beloved be sitting at this year? What was once a season filled with family and good-will and joy can be a season of loneliness and heartache and doubt. But it doesn’t have to be that way. We can make this season be anything we want it to be if we will just lean on the Lord and press into His Word.
I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me. I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:29-30
Praising the Lord and being thankful in the midst of our pain and heartache isn’t an easy thing to do. It doesn’t come naturally. It’s something we have to make a conscious effort at. But it is the way to find peace and comfort when everything around us is in chaos and disarray, when we’re surrounded by doubters and overcome by circumstances, when we are weary and want to surrender. When we lift our voices in praise, with grateful hearts and with thanksgiving, the Lord comes and surrounds us with His supernatural peace. He reaches down for us with His nail-scarred hands and says, “My peace I give to you.â€
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.†John 14:27
“The LORD will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.†Isaiah 51:3
I have been through many Thanksgivings without the one I pray for. Has it been easy? No. There were many times when I found it very difficult to be thankful. Sometimes there were situations or circumstances where I was sitting back and saying, “God, what ARE you doing?†But then I would recall the scripture in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 where His Word says, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.†And I could always find something to be thankful for, something to praise.
Take just a moment, right now, to make a list of all the things for which you can be thankful. Have you drawn closer to the Lord during this walk? Have you been able to forgive supernaturally or love unconditionally? Has your stand and your faith made a difference in someone else’s life? Have you been able to see the Lord’s hand in the details of your life? Have you been the recipient of some of the Lord’s quiet miracles? Have you felt His loving hand on your heart as you faced circumstances you never thought you would or could? All of these things are God’s loving heart on the move in your life. And for that we need to be thankful.
Abba Father, we come before you today and every day with thanksgiving and praise. You have shown Yourself faithful to us time and time again. You are our blessed protector, defender, refuge and strength. You are our source of comfort. When the world around us is falling apart, You are there with encouragement and promises. We are thankful for the task You have set before us and pray that we can be good stewards of all You have blessed us with. We pray that You will move the mountain of circumstances that are blocking every prodigal to surrender their life to You and then they can return to their waiting loved ones. Lord, rout the enemies and set our loved ones free, quickly. With thanksgiving in our hearts and praise on our lips, we bow before You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:4-5
God bless,
Kim, a stander in Nebraska
Read about me
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
