Category: Thanksgiving

Strengthened for Joy

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I don’t know about you, but I often feel weak. Life is filled with challenges (I think I may be sounding like a broken record – if there was sound to writing). Some days those challenges become overwhelming. Have you ever quit? I have.

When we feel weak, joy and thankfulness can be hard to come by. When I find it hard to be joyful or thankful I start with what verses 13-14 tell us. “He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves. In Him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” God’s undeserved gift is easy to be thankful for.

Today’s verses talk about being strengthened. We need God’s strength to have endurance to make it through the challenges. God knew there would be many and so he sent the Holy Spirit to help us. Here is another reason to be joyfully thankful.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the strength that You give. Please help us to look to You for the endurance only You can provide. Please help us to be joyfully thankful. We know You give good gifts.

I praise this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Thankfulness and Love

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The apostle Paul often opens his letters with thankfulness for the believers to whom he is writing. I like how Paul qualifies that thankfulness in this book. This is because of the love the Colossians had “for all the saints”. John 13:35 tells us that people will know we belong to Jesus by our “love for one another.” This tells us that love for other believers is very important.

Love doesn’t always come easily. We face many challenges. However, God is faithful to increase our love for Him and others through the challenges. He gives us His Spirit and His Word. And He gives us other believers with whom we can wrestle through the difficulties.

Dear Heavenly Father, please give us the wisdom we need to show all men that we are Yours. Guide us to love as You do.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Feast or Famine

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I think as Americans we are used to having so much we don’t understand what “the riches of His grace” being lavished on us means.  There are times when according to our definition, we go through famine.  Material wise that might be true.  This passage tells us of the lavish grace that gives us forgiveness.  I wonder if we realize how big God’s forgiveness is.  He doesn’t owe us forgiveness, but He gives freely and generously – a feast. 

I am so thankful for God’s generosity.  I will receive His forgiveness every time I ask (1 John 1:9).

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for lavishing forgiveness on those You have chosen. I am comforted by Your generosity.  Please help me to keep the proper perspective on Your generous forgiveness.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

A Faithful Servant’s Praise

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This verse talks about a woman named Anna who served in the temple.  When she heard that Jesus (the Messiah) was born, she started giving thanks and telling people about Jesus.  She is a good example for us all year round, but we tend to only talk about her with the Christmas story.  I hope to think about her example in the coming year.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the example of Anna.  Please help me to give thanks and tell others of the redemption that came with Jesus.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Merry Christmas Eve!

Thankful 3 Times in a Row

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I found Colossians 3:15-17 interesting as I was looking for verses about thankfulness – three verses in a row with a form of the word thankful.  The word in verses 15 and 17 is the word for gratitude.  Thankfulness in verse 16 is the word charis – grace.  I think gratitude is graceful.  A heart attitude of thankfulness will show outwardly as grace.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the many blessings you send.  Please help me to cultivate a heart of gratitude and show grace in my life.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.