Devot. 7 Days of Preparing Our Hearts for Thanksgiving

 Hi Folks,

Happy week before Thanksgiving week!  

I was reflecting last week on all that I have, much of which many do not have. 

Whether it's more sweaters in my closet than I can use, a warm home, a good working car, 

I've been realizing how much I do not need in order to exist and how much I can give away to others in need.

After a trip overseas to India this summer, my heart was deeply touched by the poverty, the homeless I saw sleeping on the streets, the hungry children I saw begging......

It made a profound impact on my heart and life and in a way that I never want to forget...

Psalm 107:1-2,8 says, "O give thanks unto the Lord, (a command!!) for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, (verbalize it!)... Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

(Oh that people WOULD give thanks to the Lord)."  

Verse 8 is repeated 4 times in the 43 verses in this chapter...Whenever a verse, phase, sentence is repeated multiple times in the Bible, seen in both the Old and New Testament or repeated in the same chapter multiple times, God is trying to drive a point home!!!   He wishes to be thanked for His goodness!!!! 

(The definition of goodness is kindness, generosity or beneficial: https://www.yourdictionary.com/goodness). 

He wishes that we would thank Him for his kindness, generosity to us...We have food on the table have because God has blessed us with a job, we are alive because God has given us breath for the day, we are saved by faith in Jesus because He was willing to die a horrible death for us....Do we ever think to thank Him on a daily basis or just on Thanksgiving??? 

I found a quote by a Christian band that says, "You don't have to wait for a special day to be thankful.  Give thanks every day."  (Toby Mac #SpeakLife) and 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 states, "Rejoice always,  pray without ceasing,  in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God (God's plan for us) in Christ Jesus for you."

Below are some devots that I hope will give you spiritual food for thought, allow God to work on your heart and prepare it for Thanksgiving.    Have a blessed week!

7 Days of Preparing Our Hearts for Thanksgiving: 

https://www.dayspring.com/articles/7-days-of-preparing-our-hearts-for-thanksgiving?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NEBNANN20211117WaysToPrepareOurHeartsforThanksgivingArticles&utm_term=DaySpring%20Newsletter%20%2B%20Daily%20Devotion%20List

(USed by permission. Taken from https://www.dayspring.com/)