Thank you. Such easy words to say. To some they come out effortlessly. To others, they are difficult words.
But what is thankfulness? Webster defines it as conscious of benefit received; expressive of thanks; well pleased: GLAD. Wow. Stop and let that soak in. On a regular basis are you conscious of a benefit you received? The door held open by a stranger, someone waving you ahead in traffic when it's not your turn, provision for a bill, the food on your table? Well pleased...GLAD...can you truly say you have a thankful heart?
Sometimes it's hard to be thankful. I get it. People stink sometimes!!! We allow our circumstances, past or present to determine how our heart outlook will be. Maybe you've been told that you are insufficient, stupid, worthless; or maybe it's just how someone has made you feel. Well I want you to know that tonight, I am thankful for YOU! YES YOU!!! You see, you have chosen to stop what you are doing and take the time to see what I have to say to you! You have made my heart glad!!!
Today in my devotions I read of David after he had taken a woman that was not his, got her pregnant, and murdered her husband! (The Bible sure is a captivating book!) Nathan came to him and told him of story of a man who had many sheep and his neighbor who had one. The man with one sheep loved his sheep and cared for him as a child. Then the man with many sheep had someone come over for supper. Rather than dressing (killing and cooking) one of his many sheep, he took his neighbor's one sheep! HOW RUDE! David was livid. He told Nathan that the man will be punished and have to answer for his wickedness, and would have to return tenfold to the neighbor. Then Nathan said, You're the Man, David. Imagine the immense dagger to the heart!!! David had wives and concubines and the kingdom to choose from, but he took one man's wife. As crazy as that story is, and as many applications I could give, I am more interested in what happened next. As a result of David's sin, Nathan told him that his child would die. David wept, and fasted and prayed while the child was alive. But when the child died, David got up, put on clean clothes and ate. His servants were shocked. How could he do this? So they asked him! David replied with, While the child was alive, I didn't know if God would be merciful to me and spare him, but now he is dead. I will go to him, but he can't come to me. In the midst of GREAT sorrow, David was what? THANKFUL!! His heart was glad to be restored to fellowship with the Lord. He knew he would see his son again one day. What an incredible faith!
You may not have a trial that big going on right now, or perhaps you do, but the great news is that either way, you can be thankful!
Choose thankful. It's a choice you'll never regret.
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