Lord, Give Me a Thankful Heart

“Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” Psalm 107:8 (KJV)

 Lord, Give Me a Thankful Heart

Today is Thanksgiving, a day we remember to give thanks to our Creator for all of the blessings He has given to us.

If we are honest, each one of us, no matter what path we are on in our journey has only to look around us to see so many good things God has done for us. No matter what challenges we may be facing, there is always something to be thankful for.

Can we see? Thank God for our vision. Can we use our hands to pick something up or write or type with?

Thank God for the use of our hands even if we have pain.

Can we swallow food?

Thank God that we can swallow our food~ some people can’t even do this.

Can we hear the birds singing, children laughing? Thank God for our sense of hearing.

Can we smell the turkey cooking in the oven, the fresh rolls baking? Thank God for our sense of smell.

Can we walk? Thank God for this wonderful ability, even if we must use a walker to get around with-- at least we have mobility!

Do we have a job? Even if it is not what we had originally planned to do in life, at least it pays the bills, thank God for this job, and look for all the good things you can find that you like about it instead of what you don’t like about it. Then you will be happy.

Do we have a house, a roof over our heads? It may not be a mansion or even the house of our dreams, but it keeps us warm in the winter and shelters us from the storms.

It is a place where our family gathers and after all, what are fancy appearances but things to boast about and puff ourselves up with and make us proud?

Let us be grateful for our house no matter how humble, for our house is a very great blessing and a gift from our Heavenly Father. There are so many homeless.

Whatever gift we have been given, whether it be good health, or even a trial, yes—a trial can be a gift from heaven because it can lead us closer to God, we must look around and thank the Lord for all His blessings He’s given to us on our journey in this life, for there is always something to be thankful for, even in the midst of pain and suffering.

A defining characteristic of last days people is ingratitude.

St. Paul wrote these words to Timothy:

Remember this: There are some terrible times coming in the last days.  
²  People will love only themselves and money. They will be proud and boast about themselves. 
They will abuse others with insults. 
They will not obey their parents. 
They will be ungrateful and against all that is pleasing to God.  
³ They will have no love for others and will refuse to forgive anyone. 
They will talk about others to hurt them and will have no self-control. 
They will be cruel and hate what is good.  
⁴ People will turn against their friends. They will do foolish things without thinking and will be so proud of themselves. Instead of loving God, they will love pleasure.  
⁵ They will go on pretending to be devoted to God, but they will refuse to let that “devotion” change the way they live.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 (ERV)

The prophet Jeremiah wrote, “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” ~Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT)

One wonders how Jeremiah could write these words after meditating on his story in the book of Lamentations. He was in indeed as he wrote, “I am a man who has seen much trouble.” ~Lamentations 3:1(ERV)

He could write them because His focus was on His Creator and on all the good that God is and does.

Jesus Christ said that the lamp of the body is the eye, and that if our eye is evil then our whole body will be filled with darkness. In other words, if we keep looking for faults, we are going to constantly see them.

But if we rather look for the good, we will be walking in the light with God and we will be able to find peace, joy, and satisfaction no matter what our circumstances are.

“For God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all. “~ 1 John 1:5

God is looking for the good in us and He wants us to make an effort to look for the good in ourselves, in each other, and in our circumstances every day and to be thankful. 

Keeping a thankful journal can help us do this.  If we are having difficulty being satisfied with our situation or someone, write down everything we can find that we like about that thing or that person. Consciously focus on the positives.

It is the enemy’s job to go looking for faults in people, to go around accusing and criticizing and find things wrong. The bible calls him “The accuser of the brethren.”

He wants us to always be dissatisfied. “...who accuses them before our God day and night.” ~ Revelation 12:10

St. Paul says instead to “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8 (NLT)

 “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV)

  Prayer

 Heavenly Father, thank You for this wonderful Thanksgiving day. 

Please forgive me for not being grateful for all of the wonderful gifts that You have bestowed upon me, for not recognizing the blessings in the midst of the storms along my path. 

Forgive me for  so often focusing on the negatives instead of looking for what is true and noble and good and right in people and circumstances that I have found challenging. 

Lord, I pray for a grateful heart that looks for the good in every situation, even in the midst of pain; in every person You bring across my path; 

I pray for a thankful heart that sees Thy blessings every day and perceives Thy measureless love abounding in all things. 

Thank You for Thy greatest gift of all, Thy Son Jesus Christ our Savior, I love You, Lord,  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

  

Unto The Least of These "Lord, Give Me a Thankful Heart" © 2014 Suzanne Davis Harden All Rights Reserved. Photo Credit: BJU Press  https://www.bjupress.com

Scripture Verses: NLT Bible Translation, ERV Bible Translation, KJV Bible Translation

Lord, Give Me Faith

LORD, GIVE ME FAITH

© 2014 Suzanne Davis Harden All Rights Reserved.

Lord, give me the faith of Abel

Whose sacrifice to You

Was born out of obedience

To Thy word of truth.

Lord, give me the faith of Enoch

Who walked with You each day

Ever drawing closer

Till Thy Love swept Him away

Into Thy heart of Truth~

He never died, You took Him home

To always be with You.

Lord give me the faith of Sarah

Who trusted and believed

The promise that you gave to her;

Thy promise she received.

Lord give me the faith of Abraham

Who waited many years

For the promise that You gave,

By faith he persevered.

He waited and he trusted

Though he saw no sign

That what You said would be fulfilled

In Your own way and time.

Lord give me the faith of Noah,

Who trusted and obeyed

Thy word to him to build an ark

Though he saw no sign of rain.

"Build Me an ark, “ said God,

~Noah saw no reason why~

Yet He patiently worked and built God’s boat

While hundreds of years went by.

"This world will end, dear Noah,

This ark you build will save

You and all I give to you,

Just do all that I say."

 

Lord give me the faith of Moses

Who faithful to You stayed;

Through every trial and temptation

He willingly obeyed.

You sent him to the Pharaoh

"Let my people go!"

And every time you sent him there,

The Pharaoh shouted, "No!"

He asked and sought and knocked,

Yet every door was closed,

But Thy will prevailed for him~

One day the king said, "Go!"

Lord give me the faith that lasts

To all eternity

That never doubts Thy promises

Will always come to be.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

                                           

“But joyful are those...whose hope is in the Lord their God.
He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.
He keeps every promise forever.” ~Psalm 146:5-6 (NLT)

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us with such immeasurable love and for believing in us so much that You entrust us with beautiful dreams that we could never hope or imagine could ever be fulfilled except by faith in Your strength and power and ability to help us accomplish them. 

For You are to be honored and glorified in each of us 

by our lives on this earth in all that we do,

 and when we accomplish what would 

seem impossible in our own strength,

 all glory and honor goes to You, our awesome Creator. 

We love You, Lord and thank You 

for keeping every promise forever. 

In Jesus' name, Amen. 

"Lord, Give Me Faith," Prayer Poem © 2014 by Suzanne Davis Harden, All Rights Reserved. Bible Quote: New Living Translation: 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. All rights reserved. Photo Illustration/ S.D. Harden/ Unto The Least Of These © 2014 All Rights Reserved.

Lord, Teach Me

"Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; 

I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, 

which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go." 

~Isaiah 48:17 (KJV)

Lord, Teach Me 

(A Prayer Poem~Inspired by Isaiah 48:17-21)

© 2014 Suzanne Davis Harden

Oh Lord, you are my God

Teach me, Lord, I pray,

Teach me what is best for me,

Lord, teach me every day.

Oh Lord, you are my God,

Please lead me where to go,

Guide me down Thy holy paths,

Thy will I want to know.

Oh Lord you are my God,

Lord, help me to obey,

To hear Thy voice, Lord, in my heart

And do all that You say.

Thy word says if I listen

And walk within Your Light

My peace will be a river

That never will run dry.

My righteousness will be like waves

That role upon the sea,

Ever rolling on and on

If I follow Thee.

My children will be like grains...

Of sand upon the shore

Measureless as the grains of sand

And live forever more

If I will obey Thy voice

And follow Thee, oh Lord.

Oh Lord, You are my God

And to Thy path of faith,

Is where You call my heart to go

And follow You each day.

You call me to the sea,

And there You make a path

Upon the rolling waves You say,

"Trust Me and hold My hand.

You will not let me fall

Beneath the rolling tide

I am always safe with You,

For Lord, You are my Guide.

You carry me to Your shelter,

Despite the wind and waves

We'll walk upon the water

Till on Thy Shores we're safe.

Oh Lord, You are my God,

Please teach me, Lord, I pray,

Please teach me what is best for me

Lord, teach me every day.

~In Jesus' name, Amen.

"Lord, Teach Me" ~(A Prayer Poem inspired by Isaiah 48:17-21) © 2014 Suzanne Davis Harden

All Rights Reserved. Photo Illustration from an original photo by Nikki Shum Harden

The Painting

 "And we know that all things work together for good 

to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." 

~Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

"For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

The Painting 

© 2014 S.D. Harden 

Lord, I thank You for today, 

For Thy gifts You sent my way... 

Thank You for forgiving me 

When I was too blind to see 

Thy treasures all along my path; 

Gifts for which I never asked;

You poured them out upon my way; 

You called them gifts, I called them pain~ 

Because I was too blind to see 

Them through Your eyes,

But patiently 

You held my hand 

And said to me, 

Someday, My child, 

Someday, You'll see, 

This pain's a gift~ 

Thy suffering
Is just My paintbrush
Painting Thee;
~A Portrait grande
Someday You'll see

My Face in yours

My Masterpiece.

Jesus Comforting His Child © S.D. Harden All Rights Reserved.

 Prayer 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that Thy mercies are new every morning, so great is Thy faithfulness to us. You are such an awesome, generous God, Thy word says that You daily "load us with benefits"--daily You give and give to us and bear all our burdens if we will allow You to. And although we may have to suffer various trials, Thy word promises that You are going to weave all these together into something 
beautiful in each one of us
 who love You. 

That is why we can be thankful always, for all things, even though we may not understand sometimes, we know we can trust in Thy faithfulness and in Thy love for us. 

Thank You, Abba Father. We love You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

"The Painting" © 2014 Suzanne Davis Harden All Rights Reserved. Unto The Least of These /Illustration: Jesus Comforting His Child; Suzanne Davis Harden © 2014 All Rights Reserved.

Scripture Photo Illustration/via Pinterest  
Scripture Quotation: New King James Bible ©1982 Thomas Nelson Inc. Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Thank You, Lord

 "This is the day the Lord has made;We will rejoice and be glad in it."

~Psalm 118:24

Thank You, Lord

Lord, I thank You for this day,

I bless and praise Thy holy name!

I bless and sing Thy holy praise

For all Thy gifts to me You gave!

Holy, holy, is Thy name!

Thank You for my soul You saved;

Saved me from sin and the grave,

By Christ's blood, oh praise Thy name!

© 2014 Suzanne Davis Harden all Rights Reserverd.

God's Word admonishes us to be thankful for all of the gifts and bessings which He showers down upon each of us every day. However, sometimes we can be blinded to the sense of God's Presence and His gifts to us and think that He has forgotten all about us. 

We may even think that He somehow loves us less than others because we end up comparing our lives to other people and think we've gotten a raw deal. 

Many things can cause this to happen. God knows and understands this perfectly. His grace meets each of us where we are. Just as the clouds can obscure the sun sometimes making it less visible does not mean it has gone away.  

Even so, illness, trials, any number of sad things can blind us to God's good gifts in our lives. 

But just as the sun is still shining even on the cloudiest of days, God's gifts to us are still there waiting to be discovered if we just open our eyes and stop focusing on the sad things. Being grateful releases joy in our hearts. 

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, help us to see the wonders of Your grace all around us even during challenging times. Help us remember that there are no second class citizens in Your Kingdom...for You are no respecter of persons and love each of us as if we were the only one to love. How... Because You live inside of us and have each of us all to Yourself. We are Your very own precious temples and You cherish us. Thank You for the wonder of knowing and loving You! You are an awesome God! In Jesus' holy name, Amen 

Unto The Least of These, © 2014 S.D. Harden All Rights Reserved. Prayer Poem-"Thank You, Lord" © 2014 Suzanne Davis Harden All Rights Reserved. /Photo Illustration/Modified via Pinterest/ Scripture/ NKJV © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc.

To Everything A Season

Watercolor Painting by S.D. Harden © All Rights Reserved.

Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11 

"To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose under heaven."

"(God) has made everything beautiful in its time. 

Also He has put eternity in their hearts, 

except that no one can find out the work 

that God does from beginning to end." (Verse 11)

TO EVERYTHING A SEASON

© 2014 S.D.Harden All Rights Reserved.

To everything a season

To everything a time

A time to keep, a time to lose,

You're in control, oh Christ.

A time for every season

A time for life, for death,

God gives a time for everything

Each moment is His gift.

Our life on earth is precious

A gift from God above

A gift of worship to Him,

A gift of grace and love.

To everything a season

In God's perfect plan

For the life He gave to us,

We're all in Jesus' hand.

He wove all our beginnings,

He knows just how we'll end,

Nothing can escape His eyes,

Our souls from Him are lent.

To everything a season,

To everything a time,

And over all our Lord above, 

Creator Jesus Christ.

Watercolor Flowers © S.D. Harden All Rights Reserved.

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of our lives. Thank You that You are in control of all things and know what is good for us at all times, in every season of our lives. Thank You for the promise in Thy word that all things, no matter how they might appear at the moment, are working together for the good of those who love You. 

Thank You for Thy love, so deep, so high, and so wide that no one can ever fathom it or come to the end of it. This love You have for each one of us is so great that, Lord Jesus, You said it was worth suffering the cruelest agony on the cross that we might become Your own. 

Thank You for these precious gifts from Thy heart to us. We love You, Father God! We love You, precious Lord Jesus! In Thy name we pray, Amen.

Unto The Least of These, "To Everything A Season" (Prayer Song Lyrics) © 2014 Suzanne Davis Harden All Rights Reserved. Flower Paintings © Suzanne Davis Harden All Rights Reserved.

May He Restore Your Soul

"The truth told with evil intent is worse than all the lies."~ William Blake

My prayer today is for all God's precious children who have been hurt by those who have misused the truth to harm innocent souls through no fault of their own.

These precious individuals have suffered intensely at the hands of those who were agents of evil masquerading as angels of light.

Jesus called them "wolves in sheep's clothing." He also said, "You shall know them by their fruits."

Because of their unspeakable acts, their victims suffer lifelong emotional and often physical damage.

Luke wrote in His Gospel, "Jesus said to His followers, 'things will surely happen that will make people sin. But it will be very bad for anyone who makes this happen. 

It will be very bad for anyone who makes one of these little children sin. It would be better for them to have a millstone tied around their neck and be drowned in the sea. So be careful.'" Luke 17:1-3 (ERV)

St. Mark wrote in his gospel that Jesus once said, "If someone causes one of the little ones who believe in me to lose faith, it would be better for that man if a huge millstone were tied around his neck and he were thrown into the sea." Mark 9:42 (TLB)

One day, the Bible promises that Jesus will wipe away every tear from every eye.

I pray for all the precious souls that have been hurt by those who have misused the truth with evil intentions. 

May the Lord Jesus restore your soul. May He wrap you in His measureless love for you and cover your scars with the blood He shed for you on the cross. May you know that He shares your pain and suffering. May He wash it away, along with all your tears in the Mercy River, as you trust your heart to Him. In Jesus' Name. 

Jesus Cherishes you and so do I. ~Suzanne ❤️

Unto The Least of These "May God Restore Your Soul" © 2014 Suzanne Davis Harden, All Rights Reserved.  Photo Credit/via Pinterest; Scripture Quotations:  (ERV) © 2006 World Bible Tranlation Center All Rights Reserved. (TLB © 1971 Tyndale  House, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 

God Wants a Relationship Not Religion

Jesus prayed to His Heavenly Father on the Eve of His Crucifixion, 

"Now this is eternal life: that they know You, the only true God, 

and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent." ~John 17:3 

Lord, fill me with Your Love today, Oh draw me close to You,

I long to know You more and more, Oh Holy God of Truth.

I long to walk close by Your side, like Enoch must have walked, 

Walking with You every day~ no other god he sought.  

Walking, ever walking, keeping stride with You,

Lord, let me walk like Enoch walked, in Spirit and in Truth.

Lord, fill me with Your light today, and let me know Thy voice,

Lord, let my heart not be deceived by those who are not Yours. 

Lord, let me know Thy voice that I might not be led astray:

Lord, let me not be blind or deaf: oh help me watch and pray.

Lord, let me walk as Enoch walked in humble trust and faith;

Lord, draw me closer to Thy heart, and let me sing Thy praise.

Lord, let me ever sing to You for all You've given me,

For sacrificing all You were that I could be redeemed.

Lord, let me live to honor You, my life a song of praise,

A gift to You, Lord Jesus Christ, like Enoch all my days.

In Jesus' Name. Amen.

A Prayer Poem: "Lord, Let Me Walk As Enoch Walked"

© 2014 Suzanne Davis Harden All Rights Reserved. 

Unto The Least Of These, © 2014 Suzanne Davis Harden All Rights Reserved. Scripture Quotation: NIV © 2011 Biblica, Inc / Photo Illustration via Pinterest

Heart's Desire

          Photo Illustration Via Pinterest

"Delight thyself also in the Lord: 

and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 

Commit thy way unto the Lord; 

trust also in Him; 

and He shall bring it to pass. 

And He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, 

and thy judgment as the noonday." ~Psalm 37:4-6 

"MY HEART'S DESIRE" © S.D. Harden 

Lord, I pray that You will be,

All I want and All I need,

My passion, Lord, Thy will to seek;

My heart's desire, oh Christ my King.

Lord, I pray Your will for me,

Would be woven in my dreams,

That I would walk with You always,

And forever love You, Lord, I pray.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

"My Heart's Desire" Prayer Poem © 2014 Suzanne Davis Harden All Rights Reserved.

Photo Illustration Source Via Pinterest/ Scripture Quotation King James Bible

Gifts To God

We are Gifts To God 

"Moreover, because of what Christ has done, 

we have become gifts to God that He delights in, 

for as part of God’s sovereign plan we were chosen from the beginning 

to be His, and all things happen just as He decided long ago."

Ephesians 1:11 (TLB)

Thank You, Lord (A Prayer Poem)

Thank You, Lord, for loving me;

To You I am Your gift;

A treasure You delight in,

Redeemed from guilt and sin;

Bought with the precious blood

Of Christ, Your only Son,

You clothe me with His righteousness,

And wrap me in His Love. 

IJN

"Thank You, Lord, Prayer Poem" © 2014 S.D. Harden All Rights Reserved. Photo Illustration/ S.D.Harden/ Scripture Quotation: TLB ©1971 Tyndale House Publishers

All Rights Reserved. UNTO THE LEAST OF THESE © 2014 All Rights Reserved.

Letters From God

 

LETTERS FROM GOD
Has God given you a dream? Maybe it's an idea that seems too impossible to ever come true. Don't throw it away! Have faith in the dreams that God sows inside your heart. Here are some scriptures to encourage you to keep believing and working toward making those dreams God gives you come true. God Bless you. I am praying for you.

The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me. Lord, Your love is eternal…"~(Psalm 138:8 NLT)

"God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished
on the day when Christ Jesus returns." ~Philippians 1:6 (Philippians 1:6 NLT)

“This is the word of The Lord…‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” ~ (Zechariah 4:6 NIV)

"Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…" ~(Zechariah 4:10 NLT)

"Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think."~(Ephesians 3:20 NLT)

Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” ~(Matthew 19:26 NLT)

"For nothing is impossible with God.” ~(Luke 1:37 NLT)

"God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. Glory to God…” ~Ephesians 3:20 (The Message Bible)
 
Heavenly Father, may You bless each person reading these words. May they not give up on the dreams You have created them to fulfill. Thank You, Lord. I love You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

"Letters From God" © S.D.Harden Illustration © S.D. Harden Scripture Quotations © New Living Translation; The Message Bible © Eugene Peterson; © New International Version Bible; Unto The Least of These © Suzanne Davis Harden All Rights Reserved.

God's Faithful Promises

Psalm 97:10 

"Let those who love the Lord hate evil.

He guards the lives of those who are faithful to Him.

He saves them from the power of sinful people."

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our Guardian God and have promised in Psalm 121:8  that You will "guard my going out and my coming in from now until forever."

You have promised in Isaiah 54:17: "No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,” says the Lord."

Lord Jesus, our Good Shepherd, You promise in John 10:27 that we will be able to hear Thy voice: "My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me."

Lord, You promise to give us "eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, who gave them to Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one." (John 28-29)

Lord Jesus, You promised that You will never ever reject any soul that comes to You seeking help. (John 6:37) "Those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them."

Lord, Your word promises that even though we may have to walk through the valley of the shadow of death, that You will be right there with us, you will never leave or forsake us. 

(Psalm 23:4) Your word even says that we are engraved on the very palms of Thy hands! (Isaiah 49:16)

In the book of Zephaniah 3:17, Lord, Thy word says, "For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” 

Thank You, Lord, for such beautiful promises of Your love and protection.

May we ever thank and praise You for these eternal promises. For, Lord Jesus, You said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My word will never pass away." 

Lord Jesus ,You are eternally faithful and keep every promise forever! Your last words to Your disciples before You ascended into Heaven were, (Matthew 28:20) "... I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” 

Thank You, Lord, for Your abiding Presence, faithful love, and powerful protection always guarding us. May we trust You more and more as we put our faith and hope in Your holy word which cannot lie. We love You, Lord. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God's Faithful Promises © 2014 Prayer of Thanks S.D. Harden Unto The Least Of These/Photo Illustration Source: Pinterest