Do
not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. --Philippians
4:6
In her classic autobiography, The Hiding Place, Corrie
ten Boom tells of the time she and her sister went through Nazi
inspections at a death camp. They were forced to suffer the humiliation
of taking off their clothes. Corrie stood in line feeling forsaken,
defiled, and desperate for answers. Suddenly she remembered that when He
hung on the cross, Jesus too was naked.
During that seemingly
degrading moment, Corrie was struck with a great sense of awe and
worship to God. In her amazement of His holiness, she leaned forward and
whispered to her sister, "Betsie, they took His clothes, too."
Betsie gasped and said, "Oh, Corrie, I never thanked Him for that."
Thanksgiving does not require any re-payment, but instead requires
recognition of what our Savior has already done for us. Some people are
appreciative by nature and others aren't. It is the latter who
especially need God's power to express thanksgiving. Thankfulness is the
opposite of selfishness. The selfish person believes they deserve what
comes to them, but the unselfish person realizes that everything is a
gift from God.
During this season, survey your own life and
make a list of things for which you are thankful. Maybe it is the small
favor a friend did for you, the house you live in, a loved one who
phoned to see how you are, a Bible study group you're active in, the
ability to walk, or the opportunity to worship freely each week in God's
house. Take some time to thank the Lord for His blessings and at least
one person who has blessed your life this year.
PRAYER
CHALLENGE: Thank God for the gift of life, salvation through Jesus
Christ, His Word by which you are to live, His constant comfort and
love, His provision, and the eternal life we have with Him.
Do
not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. --Philippians
4:6
In her classic autobiography, The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom tells of the time she and her sister went through Nazi inspections at a death camp. They were forced to suffer the humiliation of taking off their clothes. Corrie stood in line feeling forsaken, defiled, and desperate for answers. Suddenly she remembered that when He hung on the cross, Jesus too was naked.
During that seemingly degrading moment, Corrie was struck with a great sense of awe and worship to God. In her amazement of His holiness, she leaned forward and whispered to her sister, "Betsie, they took His clothes, too."
Betsie gasped and said, "Oh, Corrie, I never thanked Him for that."
Thanksgiving does not require any re-payment, but instead requires recognition of what our Savior has already done for us. Some people are appreciative by nature and others aren't. It is the latter who especially need God's power to express thanksgiving. Thankfulness is the opposite of selfishness. The selfish person believes they deserve what comes to them, but the unselfish person realizes that everything is a gift from God.
During this season, survey your own life and make a list of things for which you are thankful. Maybe it is the small favor a friend did for you, the house you live in, a loved one who phoned to see how you are, a Bible study group you're active in, the ability to walk, or the opportunity to worship freely each week in God's house. Take some time to thank the Lord for His blessings and at least one person who has blessed your life this year.
PRAYER CHALLENGE: Thank God for the gift of life, salvation through Jesus Christ, His Word by which you are to live, His constant comfort and love, His provision, and the eternal life we have with Him.
In her classic autobiography, The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom tells of the time she and her sister went through Nazi inspections at a death camp. They were forced to suffer the humiliation of taking off their clothes. Corrie stood in line feeling forsaken, defiled, and desperate for answers. Suddenly she remembered that when He hung on the cross, Jesus too was naked.
During that seemingly degrading moment, Corrie was struck with a great sense of awe and worship to God. In her amazement of His holiness, she leaned forward and whispered to her sister, "Betsie, they took His clothes, too."
Betsie gasped and said, "Oh, Corrie, I never thanked Him for that."
Thanksgiving does not require any re-payment, but instead requires recognition of what our Savior has already done for us. Some people are appreciative by nature and others aren't. It is the latter who especially need God's power to express thanksgiving. Thankfulness is the opposite of selfishness. The selfish person believes they deserve what comes to them, but the unselfish person realizes that everything is a gift from God.
During this season, survey your own life and make a list of things for which you are thankful. Maybe it is the small favor a friend did for you, the house you live in, a loved one who phoned to see how you are, a Bible study group you're active in, the ability to walk, or the opportunity to worship freely each week in God's house. Take some time to thank the Lord for His blessings and at least one person who has blessed your life this year.
PRAYER CHALLENGE: Thank God for the gift of life, salvation through Jesus Christ, His Word by which you are to live, His constant comfort and love, His provision, and the eternal life we have with Him.
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