Category: Daily Inspirational Devotional

This Thanksgiving Day many will not feel very thankful. Life this past year has been hard & cruel for them with little to rejoice about. But if we look at this Psalm, it’s an emphatic declaration of thanks…an attitude of gratitude that enables us to look at what we have, instead of what we don’t. And when we genuinely rejoice in thanksgiving to God for what’s there, not what isn’t, it can take us from pain to praise…from anguish to appreciation…from distress to delight…and from misery to magnification of His holy Name.

In this verse Paul is talking about giving generously to others, but not just physical needs. Sometimes it’s sitting down with someone and just listening. We may think our most useful asset is expounding on our Biblical wisdom or commandeering the conversation with our stories…but as an image bearer of Christ, we should imitate a heart full of love & compassion, ears ready to listen, hands willing to help, and feet ready to jump into the mess with them. That’s right, life is messy & rarely picture perfect for anyone. But when we give generously of our time it will only deepen our own experience of God’s grace. Giving generously of our time for someone may take rearranging our own schedule, it may not be convenient or easy, but if we can see it as a Divine Appointment set up by God…we will be grateful for the chance not grouchy.

To thank God for someone in our life is one thing…to thank that person publicly is another. In Romans 16:4 the Apostle Paul does just that when he wrote, “Greet Pricilla & Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the Churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.” Priscilla & Aquila were some of Paul’s closest friends. They were not only also tent-makers by trade as Paul was, but staunch supporters and mature Christian leaders in the early Church. Paul even made his home with them in Corinth, staying for 1 1/2 years…their home becoming the meeting place for the fledging Church in Ephesus. This dynamic couple had made a lasting impression on Paul and he wanted them to know just how much they meant to him…so he penned his gratitude. This week of Thanksgiving who are you grateful for? Someone who’s poured into your life & shaped who you are today? The question is, have you ever told them this? Take a moment today to write a note of gratitude…it will be well worth it.

This week of Thanksgiving we’re going to look at what it means to be grateful and show gratitude to others. For many, the Thanksgiving Dinner includes at least one person who rubs us the wrong way. It may be their political opinions, manner of speech, or some other thing that always upset us. But this year can be different if we will take to heart this verse and practice the gracious forgiveness & reconciliation God first showed us through Christ. In response to this verse, we are to extend to others this mercy, or as Romans 14:19 says, “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” An attitude of gratitude, peace, & unity can immediately change the atmosphere at the Thanksgiving table this year as we extent God’s grace & mercy to others.

There will be times in our lives when we are thrown into dangerous situations. Our heart is pounding, our knees are shaking, our hands are unsteady, and our nerves are frazzled…but we also know we must keep a clear head and act quickly. We may have time for a prayer, or we may be praying as we’re acting…”Lord, help me!” But regardless, we can rest assured in the promises of God that He will give us the necessary strength, courage, and ability to do what needs to be done.

A.W. Tozer once wrote, “When I understand that everything happening to me is to make me more Christlike, it resolves a great deal of anxiety.” And this includes suffering, pain, loss, & persecution…or as II Timothy 3:12 reminds us, “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” But when it comes to enduring those painful & anxiety-filled trials, we want to know God’s purpose beforehand…but most times we don’t have a clue why God is taking us through this long road of suffering. But if we can hold on to the promise that nothing will ever happen to us that God hasn’t first ordained…the peace of Christ & His calming grace will rule & reign in our hearts.

Think of this for a minute…What consumes your mind, controls your life. A prime example of this would be the phone lying in your lap or in your hand right now. How many hours a day do you absent-mindedly scroll through your phone? Is it getting the upper hand and controlling any free time you have? And is it causing you increased anxiety, anger, or frustration every time you do open your phone? Can we just agree that your phone use may be controlling a great deal of your life right now… which isn’t good. Romans 8:6 tells us that the mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. A mind filled & consumed with carnal things will never be at peace. But as Believers we have the mind of Christ (I Corinthians 2:16) and His peace can rule in our hearts if we determine to be in the Word rather than on our phones.

J.C. Ryle was an Anglican bishop who served in Liverpool most of the 19th Century. He was a prolific & passionate writer with a very straight forward no-nonsense approach who once wrote, “Nothing perhaps affects man’s character more than the company he keeps.” And we only need to read in Proverbs 22:24-25 to understand the dangers of unwise friendships. So today we should take stock of the people we run around with. Are we influencing them or being wrongly influenced while in their company? Are we easily being led astray when they’re around us, or are we standing up for what’s good & right? Finally, are we picking up bad habits that we’d normally never do because of their control over us? So ask yourself one question…Do you feel good about yourself & your relationship with God when you leave their company…or do you feel shameful, deceived, compromised, and defeated once again? The answer will tell you much about that relationship and whether you should continue in it or not.

We all seek favor & approval from others…to fit in & please everyone, hopefully without strife or confrontation. But there are many people out there that will take advantage & bully their way through such relationships… not caring what carnage they leave in their path. This leaves us in very painful & awkward situations regarding forgiveness & reconciliation. On the one hand, we are told to forgive one another, & forgiveness is our choice to make, whether the other person has come seeking it or not. But there are times when forgiveness will not, nor should it culminate in reconciliation. For if there’s a pattern of the other person demeaning, degrading, & demoralizing you it’s probably not wise to attempt reconciliation without other resources in place first. You can choose to forgive regardless…for that brings freedom into the situation. But then you need to use wisdom and discernment to guard your heart wisely.

Jesus’ rebuke to Peter could easily apply to any of us today. “What is it to you what I do or don’t do in another person’s life? You must follow Me.” But we love running interference for others and getting in God’s way…thinking we know more than Him. But that’s way above our mental capacity and not at all something we’re even responsible for. “You must follow Me.” In other words, Jesus is their Savior, not you…and your only duty & obligation is to maintain an abiding fellowship in belief, trust, and obedience in Jesus…following His leadership, and focusing on your fidelity to His plan & purpose in your life, not others.