This wonderful devotional is written by Pastor Leonard Navarre’s wife Diana.
Give Thanks
Devotional thoughts by Diana Navarre, Lubbock TX
Ever had a time when you gave of yourself to someone and they failed to thank you? Or when you gave someone something very meaningful and you never received a thank you? It happens to all of us and/or we are all guilty of this lack of thankfulness.
Recently when it happened to me, it made the rest of my day really stink. I kept dwelling on it and thinking how I was not appreciated and I was taken for granted.
Then I realized that I do that to God almost every day. I fail to thank Him for the million things He gives me every day. And it is not just neglect on my part but actually disobedience. God has asked us to to be thankful…
“Keep your roots deep in him and have your lives built on him. Be strong in the faith, just as you were taught, and always be thankful.” Colossians 2:7 (NCV)
AND…”give thanks whatever happens. That is what God wants for you in Christ Jesus” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NCV)
God doesn’t have a bad day when I am not thankful, He doesn’t look down at me and wish I was like someone else that does give thanks. He just continues to love me and then He leads me to realize how much better my life would be if I were continually thankful… to Him, for all that He does and gives me every day, and also to others who give to me and love me when I don’t deserve it. Thankfulness changes me. It is not for God. It is not for those that I thank. But, God knows that it changes me. It makes me more aware of what I have and all those who help me every day to have what I could never have completely on my own.
“Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking, because you were all called together in one body to have peace. Always be thankful.” Colossians 3:15 (NCV)
PLUS, thankfulness activates peacefulness in my life, the peace and contentment that can only come from trusting God for everything and everyone in my life. When I am thankful I am acknowledging the one or ones that have contributed to my life. I am acknowledging that I would have nothing without God…He is the source of everything that comes to me, even those things that I don’t see as the best – He has allowed them for a reason.
And we certainly aren’t thankful in order to get more, but, are we much more willing to give to others when they acknowledge your gift to them?
We know it pleases God when we are thankful to Him because He is always pleased with our obedience.
I hope it doesn’t take you a whole day or more, like it did me, to realize what God wants. As we stay connected to Him and His Word, we KNOW what He wants and He takes down the blinders that we have put up because of our own pride. Our pride makes us only think of ourselves and the thanks we think we deserve. But, God’s Spirit makes us aware of the thanks that ONLY HE deserves for every blessing in our lives and even the ways that we can bless others.
HE deserves ALL the THANKS and ALL THE PRAISE.