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

Love The Lord

Psalm 18:1 

I love you, Lord; You are my strength. ♥️

I love You, Lord, you are my strength,

I thank You for my life,

I thank You, Lord, for saving me,

I love You, Jesus Christ!

You are Lord of all my days,

The Lord of all my nights; 

Lord, I give my heart to You,

I love You, Jesus Christ. ♥️

"I Love You, Lord," Prayer Poem, © S.D.Harden, Unto The Least Of These, Photo Illustration: Pinterest/ Scripture Reference: New Living Translation © 2007 Tyndale House Foundation, All Rights Reserved.

Hope

"These two things cannot change: God cannot lie when He says something, 

and He cannot lie when He makes an oath.

So these two things are a great help to us who have come to God for safety. 

They encourage us to hold on to the hope that is ours. 

This hope is like an anchor for us. It is strong and sure and keeps us safe." 

~Hebrews 6:18-19

Hope

Lord, I pray for hope,

Though love's the greatest gift,

May You send me hope, oh Lord,

For love cannot come in

Without its sister hope,

Nor its sister faith,

Send me both, Lord Jesus, 

So that I might face

The battles on my journey,

With courage and Thy grace,

And may You send me love, Oh Lord,

To drown my fears with faith. 

The way of life is narrow,

And none can sojourn there

Without the gifts of faith and love

And plenty of hope to share.

For none can hoard their hope,

Nor their love or faith,

They only grow once they are shared

And given all away.

They only grow in narrow paths,

Or dark and howling storms~

Hope and Faith will always come

When we cling to You, Lord.

Lord, I pray for hope,

To trust You on my path,

For Faith and Love to follow;

Oh hold me in Thy hand.

In Jesus' name, amen.

Unto the Least of These, Prayer Poem~"Hope" © 2014 S.D. Harden All Rights Reserved. Photo:Google

Never Give Up!

Psalm 107:10, 12-16, 19-22 

"Some of God’s people were prisoners, locked behind bars in dark prisons. ...They stumbled and fell, and there was no one to help them. They were in trouble, so they called to the Lord for help, and He saved them from their troubles. He took them out of their dark prisons. He broke the ropes that held them. 

Thank the Lord for His faithful love and for the amazing things He does for people. He breaks down their bronze gates. He shatters their iron bars. They were in trouble, so they called to the Lord for help, and He saved them from their troubles. 

He gave the command and healed them, so they were saved from the grave. 

Thank the Lord for his faithful love and for the amazing things He does for people. 

Offer sacrifices of thanks to Him. Sing with joy about all that He has done." 

NEVER GIVE UP

Wherever you are on your journey, whatever challenge you may be facing right now, 

be assured that God is with you, though you may not be aware of His Presence. 

Know that He who created all the stars and calls them all by name; who knows the 

numbers of hairs on your head and bottles all your tears, loves you beyond measure.

If your faith is eclipsed by a trial of suffering right now and it is difficult to feel God's love

as You have in the past, know that His Spirit is still inside of you, holding you close to His heart. Even as the sun is still shining during a solar eclipse, God's Spirit is still abiding strong within your heart. He will never leave you in your valley of the shadow. 

King David wrote, "The Lord is close to those who have suffered disappointment. He saves those who are discouraged." (Psalm 34:18 ERV)

Though you may not be able to feel the Lord's presence in your present circumstances, trust and abide in His word. Stand strong on His promises because, "No word from God shall ever fail." (Luke 1:37 NIV)

Whatever you do, remember:  "Jesus told his disciples...that they should always pray and not give up."~Luke 18:1

Don't give up! God has a wonderful future ahead for you. God promises in His word, 

 "I know the plans that I have for you.” This message is from the Lord. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future. Then you will call My name. You will come to Me and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will search for Me, and when you search for Me with all your heart, you will find Me. I will let you find Me.” This message is from the Lord. “And I will bring you back from your captivity.” ~Jeremiah 29:11-14 ERV

Heavenly Father, thank You for every person reading these words today. May You fill their hearts with rivers of hope. Renew, restore their faith and give them an abiding awareness of Your holy Presence within and around them everywhere they go, at all times. Encourage their hearts and never let them give up, dear Lord, even as You, Lord Jesus, never gave up despite the pain, the shame, and suffering, when You gave Your life for us on the cross. Protect Your dear children from hopelessness and discouragement as You help them to focus their thoughts on Thy word and to abide in Thee at all times. Thank You Lord. I love You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Unto The Least of These, "Never Give Up" © S.D. Harden/ Photo Illustration Source/Pinterest