The Power of Being Thankful: 365 Devotions for Discovering the Strength of Gratitude (17 page)

Thankfully, our enjoyment in life is not based on always having enjoyable circumstances. It is an attitude of the heart, a decision to enjoy everything because all things—even little, seemingly insignificant things—have a part in the overall “big picture” of life.

Life is a journey. Everything in it is a process. It has a beginning, a middle, and an end. All aspects of life are always developing. Life is motion. Without movement, advancement, and progression, there is no life. In other words, as long as you and I are alive, we are always going to be going somewhere.

If you have not been enjoying the journey of your life, it is time to start. If you have been enjoying your life, then thank God and look for ways to enjoy it even more.

I thank You, Father, that my life is a journey. I’m not going to stay stuck in a difficult or trying situation forever—You are taking me through it. Help me to experience Your joy regardless of my surroundings. Help me to enjoy my life today!

God is always good to us, always faithful to us, always working so diligently in our lives. He is always doing something for us and acting in our best interest, so we need to respond by letting Him know we appreciate His abundant goodness.

For example, “Lord, thank You for a good night’s sleep,” or “God, I thank You that my visit to the dentist didn’t hurt as much as I thought it might,” or “Father, thank You for helping me make good decisions today,” or “Lord, thank You for keeping me encouraged.”

We can thank God silently in our hearts, and we can also voice our thankfulness aloud because that helps us stay conscious and aware of God’s love, which He demonstrates through His goodness to us.

I thank You, Father, that You are always faithful to me. Even when I can’t see it, You are working on my behalf because You love me and You have a great plan for my life. Thank You for all the ways You demonstrate that love on a daily basis.

While I was ministering in a church, God gave me a great illustration of what it means to live in harmony with each other.

I asked the entire worship team to return to the platform, and then I requested them to sing and play a song of their choice. I knew, of course, that they would all choose a different song because I had given no instructions on what song to sing or play. As they sang and played, the sound was horrible! There was no harmony. Then I asked them to play “Jesus Loves Me.” It sounded sweet, soothing, and wonderfully comforting.

Disharmony is noise in God’s ears. But when we live in harmony, we produce a sweet sound. When we learn the value of each other, we become thankful for each other and we learn to work together.

Father, I am grateful for the people You have put in my life. I want to live in harmony, not strife, so that my relationships will be a sweet sound to Your ear. Thank You for giving me the patience and wisdom I need to live in harmony with others.

Where does love fit into your list of priorities? Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you” (John 13:34 NKJV). It seems to me that Jesus was saying love is the main thing on which we should concentrate. The apostle Paul states that “faith, hope, love abide… but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).

One of the greatest things we have to be thankful for is that God is love. So when we choose to walk in His love, we abide in Him. That is why love is the greatest thing in the world. It is the best thing to commit our life to, to seek to excel in.

I encourage you to do yourself a favor and show love to someone today. Love not only blesses others; it also blesses the one doing the loving.

Father, thank You that You love me and You demonstrate that love every day. Help me to receive Your love, and help me to turn around and share that love with others.

Fear is a spirit that produces feelings. When God told Joshua to not be afraid, He was not commanding him to not “feel” fear; He was commanding him to not
give in
to the fear he was facing.

I often encourage people to “do it afraid.” That basically means when fear attacks you, you need to go ahead and do whatever God is telling you to do anyway. You may do it with your knees shaking or your palms sweating, but do it anyway. That’s what it means to “fear not.”

We can be thankful we have Scripture to meditate on when we feel afraid. God’s promises strengthen us to keep pressing forward, no matter how we feel. The Word of God will give you the faith you need to overcome any feeling of fear.

Thank You, Father, that I don’t have to give in to a feeling of fear. With Your help, I can press forward and do what You have called me to do regardless of my feelings. Thank You, Father, that I can do it afraid.