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Has something happened in your life that doesn’t make sense? Are you facing a Thanksgiving Day that is not full of celebration? Has this been a tough year for you and your family? Maybe you couldn’t understand how a loving God could let something like that happen to you or a loved one.
Traditionally, Thanksgiving Day is a food-filled celebration associated with expressing gratitude to God for the harvest of His bounty. Praise, thankfulness, and gratitude should be a regular part of our everyday life. Unfortunately, our sensitivities are often dulled to God’s grace and gracious provision.
Most people have events happen that are difficult or impossible to understand. Rather than question the Lord with your whys, it can help to take a page out of Jesus’ life and be thankful. As the Bible says, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”(1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Throughout His earthly ministry Jesus continued to offer up prayers of thanks and gratitude to the Father for all He had accomplished for and with Him, His Son. In His prayer in John 17, just prior to His betrayal, Jesus…
… thanked the Father for the power and the opportunity to secure eternal life for all believers (John 17:2).
… thanked the Father for giving Him the disciples (verses 6-7).
… thanked the Father that believers had heard and obeyed the Father’s Word, which Christ had spoken (verse 8).
Then, with a heart of thankfulness, Jesus turned His focus on the cross and His death. How could Jesus be thankful? And what was the reason for this grateful attitude? He knew the Father was in absolute control. He knew everything was going according to God’s divine plan.
We have that same confidence in God. While some seasons are difficult, God is always good. He is with us. And He is for us. Let’s give thanks for these wonderful promises!
RESPOND
Dear Lord, I thank You with a heart of gratitude. In the words of King David, I marvel “Who am I, O Lord God” that You have blessed me so abundantly? I offer You inadequate but sincere praise and thanksgiving. Thank You, dear Lord! Amen.
RENEWING RESOURCES
Powerful Promises for Every Woman: 12 Life-Changing Truths from Psalm 23—Readers will take joy in this inspiring devotionaljourney as they embrace promises of God’s provision, healing, comfort, protection, and more!
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REFLECT
Do I trust God’s divine plans for me?
REMEMBER
God is in absolute control. Rest assured that everything is going according to God’s divine plan.
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Jim and Elizabeth George are bestselling authors and national speakers dedicated to helping people live a life after God’s own heart. Together, they have written over 150 books with more than 14 million copies sold around the world. For over 35 years, the teachings and steadfast example of Elizabeth and Jim have helped countless men and women:
Jim and Elizabeth George are bestselling authors and national speakers dedicated to helping people live a life after God’s own heart. Together, they have written over 150 books with more than 14 million copies sold around the world. For over 35 years, the teachings and steadfast example of Elizabeth and Jim have helped countless men and women:
Not long after I accepted a position at the seminary where I received my own training, I attended a conference of professors from around the country. One of the speakers had a Ph.D. in religion and theology. It wasn’t long before it became apparent that, while this person knew a lot about God, he did not have a personal relationship with God through Christ. During a lunch break, I sat with him and initiated a conversation about salvation and the gospel message.
Sometimes the accounts of the faithful in the Bible can feel a bit intimidating. You may wonder if you will ever transform into a man or woman with godly influence. Maybe you feel that way when you read about the woman in Proverbs 31, or when you read about the life of Paul. Paul was Jesus’ “chosen vessel” to spread the Savior’s name “before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15).
Becoming an empty nester presents many unexpected challenges, especially when we have been used to living in a home bustling with children. For years, our calendar was marked with school projects, sporting events, youth groups, and family meals around the table. Now we have an abundance of free time, and we want to steward it well.