I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, “Salvation comes from the Lord.” (Jonah 2:9)
Seeing that this is Thanksgiving week, it seems like a great time to focus on the concepts of “Thanks” and “Giving.” My goal for the devotionals this week is to encourage and strengthen your attitude of gratitude for all that God has done for you.
It is only by staying aware of our constant need for Jesus in our lives that we will we be able to fill our waking moments with a mindset of thanks and giving. When we are distant, distracted, or disconnected from our Source, we tend to try to fill ourselves with the treasures of this earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal (Matthew 6:19). But when we are purposefully pressing into the presence of our Lord, we are filling ourselves with treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal (Matthew 6:20).
Staying in close communication with Jesus is the key that unlocks the door leading to living a life marked by genuine thanks and generous giving. When we keep Jesus on the throne of our lives, we will be following the model He left for us, one where thanks and giving go hand in hand.
Here is a great practice to incorporate into our daily lives. Say short, simple, straightforward prayers that simply flow out of the details of daily living:
- “Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus.”
- “I love you, Lord. I love you, Lord. I love you, Lord.”
- “Your grace is sufficient. Your grace is sufficient. Your grace is sufficient.”
I am sure you can think of many short prayers that will keep you in a thanks and giving frame of mind, not just throughout this week but throughout the entire year. Keep living in the shadow of the cross, and you will have all the strength you need to live a life marked by an attitude of gratitude that will reflect the character of Christ to all those you come in contact with.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 