Although the American holiday of Thanksgiving has changed drastically from the first time the Pilgrims held a feast to thank God for the blessings He had given, the heartbeat of the holiday should be gratitude to God.
For our family we decided to memorize Psalm 100 and we will say it together this Thursday as a prayer.
Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations. Psalms 100:1-5 NKJV
Whatever your plans are, I pray you are filled with thankfulness to God Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earther, Savior of the World.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Thanksgiving. It’s a blessing to have a day set aside to give You thanks. Lord, I know holidays can be painful for many, and I humbly request that You reach those who mourn with Your comfort, that You heal those who are broken by sin, and You restore those discouraged by the effects of living in this sin filled world. Lord, for those who are called by Your name, help them to shine brightly to those around them who have yet to know You. Lord, for the skeptic whose belief in You is hindered by the lies of the enemy, whose heart is hard due to rebellion and selfish ambition, Lord, please let them see what they are choosing and that You are the only Way, Truth, and Light. Lord, break through the darkness and shine through those who have devoted themselves to Your glory. Thank You, Jesus! Amen.
No matter the circumstance, there always seems to be something which tempts us to think better of ourselves than others.
The Bible warns against pride, and we see the consequences of it in both the Old and New Testaments.
Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. Jeremiah 9:23-24 KJV
1 Corinthians 1:31 KJV — That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Pride hides underneath many cloaks, but the evidence of it is a lack of love and respect for others.
This most dangerous foe: pride; sets itself up against all others, including God, when allowed to reign in our lives.
Recently, the Lord has been dealing with my heart and the pride which I had been blind to.
It reared it’s ugly head when a circumstance triggered in me both fear and some resentment.
At the time it felt like a battle within between what I knew was the correct choice, the proper response, and my emotions which were all over between panic and anger.
While walking through this, God brought the truth through the words of a friend.
“What’s my problem?” I spoke with frustration.
“The problem is you love yourself too much.”
Her words were truth and cut straight through all my excuses, all my reasons, all my emotions.
“You’re right.”
Humility, although difficult, is the first step to defeating pride.
The next was to seek God’s forgiveness and other’s, for in my struggle I’d reacted poorly to those around me.
Since then, I’ve been allowing the Word to wash me, seeking His truth, and requesting He reveal my heart completely, that every trace of pride would be dealt with.
It’s not been easy.
I’m ashamed to say I have allowed a great deal of pride to grow where I never realized it was residing.
But the part that hurts the most is where I’ve allowed pride to puff me up.
I allowed pride to keep careful track of others’ errors, their shortcomings, their mistakes, almost as if God needed a record keeper.
It wasn’t an intentional thing, but very subtle, because I know God doesn’t want me to keep such a record, ever.
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. I Corinthians 13:4-7 NKJV
It’s opposite of love and kills my desire to trust that person.
The worst part of pride is the way it taints my walk with God.
The arrogance God revealed to me was coloring my ability to surrender myself and my family before Him.
Some of this pride has been a habit of long standing and God is having to purify me in ways I didn’t expect.
I’m so thankful for His truth shining into my heart and dealing with me, no matter how painful or embarrassing.
It’s worth every bit of the discomfort.
I want to dwell with the Lord Jesus and be completely humbled before Him.
Proverbs 11:2 KJV — When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for dealing with my heart and showing me the ways of pride and arrogance in my life. Lord, I thank You for how You used things I never expected to show me the truth. Lord, continue to wash me with Your Word that I might be completely humbled before You daily. Lord, I have confessed my errors before You and Your forgiveness has been so sweet! Such beautiful gifts of mercy and grace You bestow! May my heart be chastened daily, that no speck of pride be allowed admittance. Let me be Your maidservant, without regard to anything save the joy of serving You. Thank You for Your blessings, Jesus. May my life bring glory to Your name. Amen.
This morning didn’t begin as it normally does on a Monday.
Instead of waking to my husband’s alarm, I awoke to him entering the room carrying a blanket and saying in a less-than-rested voice, “I’m late. Going to take a shower.”
“What happened?”
“I was awake from 1 am to 5 this morning and didn’t hear my alarm.”
He headed to the shower and after a few moments of trying to get myself fully awake, I rolled out of bed and headed for the kitchen to make him some coffee.
It’s been a wonderful weekend.
Saturday was our oldest girl’s birthday and our son-in-law had called me the day previous to ask if we could watch the kids so he could to take her out for part of the day, then they would be back in time for supper, cake and gifts.
I love watching the grandbabies!
We had a great time, but somewhere in the day I started to feel a migraine coming on.
It was disappointing, but I prayed and asked the Lord to keep me from having to go to bed while the family was still here.
Thankfully, not long after this our daughter and son-in-law returned.
I went and took my medication and had a short nap.
I was able to get up and enjoy time with all three of our daughters as our second girl and her husband came over as well.
By bedtime, I was ready to crash.
I overslept the next morning and when I did waken it was with the realization that I wasn’t going to leave the house for church.
My family did and prayed for me.
I felt good enough to be able to eat and read my Bible.
I normally watch online when I can’t go, but yesterday I really enjoyed the time by simply praying.
When everyone came back we ate and I rested, while Hubby and Jase worked on our chicken coop.
Hubby had not worked on Saturday so he could help me with the kids.
They got a bunch done and I didn’t have to cook as we had leftovers from the night before.
I went to bed still hurting, but thankful and happy.
Not the same emotion I felt as I drug myself into the kitchen this morning.
Not only had I failed to clean the kitchen after supper, I was like a porcupine whose quills are working the opposite way, everything seemed to poke me.
The cutting board with crumbs, the sink with dirty dishes, the floor which needed to be swept, the…you get the idea.
I needed to get my mind and heart out of the “crummies” and into the Lord so I started to pray.
“Lord, thank You for my family whose dirty dishes are in my way.”
…hmm, not quite the right attitude…try again.
“Lord, thank You for the food we have leftover, so I don’t have to try to make a lunch for my husband.”
…better…
“Lord, thank You for my husband. I don’t know why he couldn’t sleep, but he is so tired, please bless him today, giving him all he needs to do his job well.”
“Lord, thank You for my children still at home. Please help me to be gracious and not cranky today.”
Unfortunately, I got sidetracked from this positive line when I realized the dishwasher was completely clean, but hadn’t been unloaded from yesterday morning, and someone in an effort to find something in the clean clothes in the dryer dropped a used-to-be clean dish towel on the floor and left it there.
I tossed it in the washing machine and went to deal with the dishwasher.
Hubby returned, thanked me for breakfast and lunch and coffee.
He kissed me, hugged me, and knew I was struggling.
Gently asked me what was wrong.
I whispered the truth and he kissed me again, said “I love you” and left.
After finishing the dishes, I loaded and started the washing machine, turned off breakfast to keep it from burning and headed for my room.
I had neglected my time with the Lord and that was why I was struggling so much.
I barely made it in and my phone dinged with a text.
It was a childhood friend whose now a lovely adult woman with a family.
She’d texted me that she was praying for me, thanked me for my prayers for her, and told me I was awesome.
I texted back: “How’d ya know I needed that this morning? I bet it was Jesus who told you. Thank you, so much for your prayers!”
Then, I read another prayer from a friend I made in our last city.
It was beautiful and encouraging and I felt humbled, blessed, and convicted.
I know how difficult it is for me to come back off a migraine and how much my family does when I am unable to do.
It’s very ungrateful of me to focus on all the things they didn’t do rather than praising God for all they did do.
It’s also unfair to them as they are simply doing what they see as the priority for that day.
I spent some time in prayer, thanking God and confessing I’d messed up my Monday morning, asking Him to redeem it.
He has.
With that knowledge and blessing, I am writing to you.
If your struggling with the “crummies”, an attitude which is anything but loving, thankful, and joyful take a minute and repent for the ingratitude, thank God for His blessing, even if it’s only the breath you are breathing you have something to thank Him for.
Then seek God’s Word and His face, find a chance to worship God, and fill your heart and mind with God’s truth, His love, His mercy and grace.
That’s what restored my morning along with the prayers of a few friends, the gentleness of my husband.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your Word and how You use us to encourage and lift up one another. Lord Jesus, I thank You for all You have done through others for me this morning. First, with the gentle understanding of my husband and then through the reaching out of my friends in prayer. Lord Jesus, for those who are struggling with crummy attitudes, crummy circumstances, maybe even crummy lives, I just lift them up to You and humbly request that they see You this day, that they turn their hearts to seeking You and find solace for their hurting in Your Word and Your salvation. Lord Jesus, sometimes we simply get off track through selfishness or other tricks of sin, please bring us , each one of us, clarity if we have stepped away from following hard after You. Lord, put our feet back upon the right road and let the weary heart find strength in Your Word and You Holy Spirit. For it is Your joy in which we find strength. Lord, for so many who are living lives of horrible oppression and abuse, I humbly request You meet them right where they are and bring them both hope and freedom through You precious blood. Lord, it is for the lost, the sick, the broken, the blind, the lame, the deaf, the hurting, the orphan, the widow, the prodigal, the sinner, that You came, You died, You rose again. May we never tire of that truth nor weary of waiting for Your return. I love You, Jesus. Amen.
He’s been teaching me there is always something to be thankful for.
There’s always an opportunity to praise Him.
Yesterday, I was thankful for provision.
Despite being really tired all day, He supplied me with enough energy to do what was required.
The day before, I was thankful for the kindness of our pastor, who dropped everything to jump start our daughter’s SUV and then follow her home, just to make sure she was alright.
Wednesday, I was thankful for medical professionals as I got my shots and Anne had a three hour lab test.
The list goes on, because each day held more than one opportunity for me to be thankful.
I’m certain there were some opportunities to praise God which slipped by my notice, because there’s that many.
God’s blessings surround us daily and it’s incredible.
It used to be that I missed so many opportunities to be filled with gratitude.
Instead of looking at the ways God was providing, I only focused upon the things which I didn’t like, didn’t want, or upset me.
When the Lord corrected my perspective, I realized all the missed opportunities and repented.
He forgave me!
(What a gracious, merciful, and understanding God He is!)
He’s been teaching me not get tangled up with the emotions, but to be honest with what I’m feeling, and seek His face for the opportunity He has in the circumstance I’m in.
For this life is not my own, it belongs to Jesus.
He bought it at such a high price.
With the knowledge of His goodness I can rest in knowing no matter what, He is working and I have an opportunity to praise Him.
Psalm 9:11 KJV — Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.
I can also walk through this life with security, my soul is safe in His salvation.
Isaiah 12:2 KJV — Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your blessings. Thank You for sustaining us and caring for us continually. Lord, thank You for providing so many opportunities to praise You! Lord, I again confess my past sin of missing You because I was focused on the wrong thing. Lord, thank You for Your forgiveness. Thank You for helping me learn to look forward to new opportunities to be thankful while continuing to praise You for Your past blessings. Lord Jesus, I know You are all mighty, and You do things beyond my understanding. I know Your truth is life and Your blessings are innumerable. Thank You for all the ways You have blessed me and for another day to continue to praise You.
Psalm 22:25-27 NKJV — My praise shall be of You in the great assembly; I will pay My vows before those who fear Him. The poor shall eat and be satisfied; Those who seek Him will praise the LORD. Let your heart live forever! All the ends of the world Shall remember and turn to the LORD, And all the families of the nations Shall worship before You.
Nothing in my own opinions would suggest that one should move house near the holidays.
The very idea seems rather like a bad joke.
However, life often has taught me my greatest lessons through things which seemed ridiculous.
God has truly used this time to show me just how much we are blessed.
It’s been like Christmas morning every time I unpack something!
Although, there’s still a lot to do and we probably won’t be settled for a while yet, it’s been an amazing season.
This Christmas God gave me a fresh perspective on all He has already given into our care.
I am humbled and deeply grateful.
Truly, gifts from God are treasure indeed.
Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations. Psalms 100:1-5 NKJV
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You so much for Your Word. Thank You for doing what You have in our lives. Lord, thank You for the many, many blessings. I truly can’t count them all. Lord, please continue to teach me how to have a grateful heart. Lord, I want to walk in Your will and rest in Your truth each and every day. Thank You for teaching me to let go of the things I used to think important. Thank You for teaching me I can be a good hostess no matter what. Lord, please continue to hone my heart and to value those things which You value. Lord, please continue to guide me in living with thankfulness daily. I love You, Jesus! Amen.
I was busy cooking dinner, but his words struck me.
He was referring to a song on the movie White Christmas which has the line, “If your worried and you can’t sleep, just count your blessings instead of sheep and you’ll fall asleep counting your blessings!”
I took a moment to discuss the song with our son and then he returned to the show and I to cooking.
Yet, as I have thought about that moment between us, I’ve realized the truth of “counting your blessings” is far deeper than just trying to get to sleep.
It’s a change in perspective and it’s an attitude of thankfulness.
But it should be applied to all of life.
Scripture is our guide, for in it we see the effects of people’s choices to their lives and their hearts.
Numbers 11:4-6 NKJV — Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: “Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!”
This story in Numbers is a warning.
Not only does a lack of thankfulness produce attitudes of grumbling and complaining, it damages the relationship between those who indulge in it and God.
The Bible records what manna was like and all they had to do was pick it up from the ground and prepare it.
Numbers 11:7-8 NKJV — Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its color like the color of bdellium. The people went about and gathered it, ground it on millstones or beat it in the mortar, cooked it in pans, and made cakes of it; and its taste was like the taste of pastry prepared with oil.
Numbers 11:10 NKJV — Then Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, everyone at the door of his tent; and the anger of the LORD was greatly aroused; Moses also was displeased.
How different this could have been if they had simply thanked God for His faithfulness and provision.
God did grant their request for meat, but the end result wasn’t positive.
Numbers 11:18-20 NKJV — “Then you shall say to the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat; for you have wept in the hearing of the LORD, saying, “Who will give us meat to eat? For it was well with us in Egypt.” Therefore the LORD will give you meat, and you shall eat. ‘You shall eat, not one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days, ‘but for a whole month, until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have despised the LORD who is among you, and have wept before Him, saying, “Why did we ever come up out of Egypt?” ’ ”
The children of Israel were not only ungrateful for all God had done and was doing, they were unrealistic about the past.
Recalling the variety of food in Egypt, but skipping over the truth of their hard bondage was twisting the truth and forgetting the welt in Egypt, crying out to be delivered.
Grumbling or complaining, an attitude of discontent in our own hearts is a danger signal that our gratitude has eroded, our perspective is false, and our hearts need the discipline of thankfulness.
No matter the circumstances, there is always something we can praise God for.
Salvation should be at the top of the list.
For our gift of freedom from sin and death is not unlike the bondage God redeemed the Israelites from.
In their circumstance, it cost the first born of all Egypt to purchase their freedom.
In ours, the price was significantly higher, our freedom was bought by God, Himself.
No matter what, may we never stop counting that blessing.
Instead, let it be the thing we praise God for morning to night, for He certainly is worthy of our praise.
1 Chronicles 16:23 KJV — Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You so much for Your salvation! Lord, thank You for Your sacrifice, which I can never truly comprehend. Lord, please place a guard upon my heart, that I might not sin against You by complaining or grumbling. Lord, please help me to be diligent to praise and thank You throughout my day. Lord, thank You that I can praise You when I’m happy or sad, frustrated or content, my emotions do not have to hinder my gratitude. Please remind me to praise You, especially when I’m struggling, that my perspective will be accurate and honorable. Lord, please help me to walk with You in all things with a thankful heart, for there is nothing which is as precious as You and Your gift of salvation. I love You, Jesus. Amen.
Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” Luke 12:15 NLT
Because our possessions can be a blessing or a snare.
For those who are called by Christ’s name, it is vital we realize nothing belongs to us.
Not even ourselves.
Psalm 100:3 NKJV — Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Thus, whatever we have or do not have, is not where our trust, our value, or our provision comes from.
For followers of Christ, our security, our identity, our salvation comes from Jesus alone.
John 15:5 KJV — I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
That’s why Jesus taught his disciples not to worry about material possessions.
Matthew 6:31-33 NKJV — “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
The key is trusting God with all and living daily with gratitude.
Instruction on how to do these things are found in God’s Word, which is also where we find the warning to guard against the trap greed
It is a dangerous and slippery slope.
Once the choice is made, although possibly unconsciously, what is solid and secure slides quickly into a never ending burning desire for more.
Jesus’s freedom from sin means we need not live in such captivity.
When we realize sin has tripped us up in any area, Jesus offers forgiveness and encouragement to repent and turn away from this self destruction.
The choice lies with us.
Do we repent and turn away from sin or do make excuses to try and hold on to just enough to get categorized as “fence sitters”?
Jesus’s words make it obvious what is truly valuable.
“Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” Luke 12:21 NLT
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for salvation. Lord, please help me to guard against greed and the cares of this world. Lord, thank You for the opportunity to learn from Your Word what is of worth. Lord Jesus, thank You so much for salvation and the hope of heaven. Please help me to be a good steward with the stuff You have placed in my care, help me never forget it is Yours, not mine. Lord, please keep me from pride, that I might not sin against You. Lord, please continue to help me to trust You for daily needs and to walk in Your truth with joy. Thank You, Lord for so many opportunities to learn and to grow closer to You. I love You, Jesus. Amen.
Psalm 100 is beautiful and we’ll worth reading as we celebrate.
I plan on having our family read it before we eat our Thanksgiving meal.
Hopefully, I will also have time to make place cards with the verse on it, but if not that’s okay too.
The point is Jesus and being thankful to Him for all things.
These last two months the Lord has been speaking with me about giving thanks for all while holding it lightly.
It began somewhere in September I believe.
I was walking around the house and thanking God for different things, especially the ability to have a tidy, functional, and clean house.
When the Lord asked me a question.
Would you give it all up if I asked you to?
I was surprised.
September was our “one year” in this house and the idea of giving it all up to move again wasn’t that appealing.
But I know better than to with hold anything from my Lord.
“Lord, I want to say yes without hindrance or regret. I’m not there, but I want to be. Please help me to be willing to give it all up.”
And so began weeks of different circumstances which gave me many opportunities to say, “Lord, it all belongs to You. Do with it as You see fit.”
Then it rippled out of things and into other areas.
Like my family, my personal “to do” list, and other such precious things.
Over and over the Lord gave me opportunity to give all to Him.
To speak the words both in my heart and with my mouth, that I give all to Jesus, He’s will be done.
And although I’m unsure of all the reasons He has taken me down this path again (not the first time and I’m certain it won’t be the last either) I find gratitude has bloomed anew.
There’s such thankfulness of heart when one realizes that the cherished things, family, love, blessings, are all gifts from God.
Nothing I have done has earned these things.
But I can enjoy them all the more and praise God I each.
Especially when I’m holding them lightly.
There’s something so precious about understanding the gifts and blessings of the now may or may not be those of tomorrow.
When I cherish today, my heart finds such thankfulness waiting.
Yes, some days are easier to cherish than others, but each is a gift and I want to praise God for every one.
This Thanksgiving, I hope you are able to relinquish expectation and simply praise God for another day.
His gift to you.
His gift to me.
Praise the Lord!
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You so much for helping me relinquish all things back into Your hands. Lord, there are still many things I do not understand and circumstances which are concerning, but I choose to place each one in Your hand. To reach up and wrap my heart around Your goodness and cling to You through it all. For nothing and no one can separate me from Your love. That in itself is something to be thankful for! I praise and worship You this day. Thank You for Your love. Thank You for Your faithfulness. Thank You for a day to simply be grateful. I love You, Jesus. Amen.
Make a joyful shout to the Lord , all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord , He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations. Psalms 100:1-5 NKJV
I know it’s a bit early, but I just wanted to reach out and say:
“Happy Thanksgiving!”
This has always been a time of year I look forward to.
Thanksgiving is an opportunity to praise God.
It’s a moment to remember the heritage and sacrifice of the Pilgrims and their families.
It’s an opportunity to praise God for the way He brought together both the Pilgrims and the Native Americans in the first Thanksgiving.
A holiday where we simply stop and say “thank you” to God.
Yes, we enjoy a fancy meal and normally play at least one board game.
But we also read the Pilgrim’s story (Thanksgiving, A Time To Remember by Barbara Rainey) and sometimes I read from their published journal.
This year, I’m going to be encouraging our children to write at least one letter of gratitude to someone.
It’s an idea I read in a blog and I love it.
Because it’s never too soon to tell someone thank you for their touch upon your life.
And gratitude should never be an empty cup.
For God’s blessings are all around us each and every day.
Truly, there is no end to His goodness.
Thus, there should be no end to our gratitude.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You so much for all Your blessings. Lord, I could spend a lifetime just writing down all Your wonderous works and never reach the end. Lord, during this week, please help us to look at Your goodness and find so many reasons to rejoice. Lord, let our hearts be filled with gratitude and please grant us opportunity to thank those You have used in our lives. Thank You for a holiday simply set aside to praise, thank, and honor You for all Your blessings! I love You, Jesus. Thank You for first loving me. Amen.
Colossians 3:17 NKJV — And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
There’s two important truths in this verse.
The first is: “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,” Col. 3:17a
As followers of Christ our entire lives are to be a reflection of our choice.
Which can seem difficult on the day-to-day scheme.
Yet, we are called to live unto Christ, no matter the task at hand.
Which is an encouraging thought.
No longer does the mundane task mean nothing.
If my attitude is to accomplish those things with a heart of serving Christ, mundane can become mighty, an opportunity to serve Christ no matter the task.
It’s always about the heart and what is residing there: servanthood or selfishness.
The second truth is another opportunity: “giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Col. 3:17b
When our lives are a reflection of Christ, we have the privilege to praise at the same time.
Praising and thanking God for His marvelous works of salvation, restoration, and provision are a natural reaction.
Or it should be.
If one finds their heart is following through with the daily tasks, but the gratitude is lost, it’s a warning.
Can the “doing all” be missing? Could the motivation of the tasks been lost to living for something else other than Christ?
The human heart constantly requires self discipline to remain in line with the commandments of scripture.
It’s good to do a heart check.
Therefore we need both truths in this verse.
And as we step out into each day, may we keep these truths close to our hearts.
It will take effort and perseverance to train our lives into living each part unto Christ, but that’s why this is a journey.
Walking with Jesus is a growing stretching building beautiful journey.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for this verse. Thank You for the truths You have given us so we can live aware of our actions and attitudes. Lord Jesus, You know that we often find it difficult to follow Your Word. Our hearts don’t easily surrender to Your will. Please, walk with us today, hone our hearts and minds and hold our hand, that we might follow You in all things. Please keep us from evil. Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. For Thine is the kingdom and the glory forever. Amen.
patientlyhopeful 