Give Thanks

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." Colossians 2:6-7

Every November, when I get on facebook, I see everyone do the "Month of Thankfulness". Everyday different people post what they are thankful for. I never did it in the past honestly, because I didn't want to conform and jump on everyone else's bandwagon. But little did I know this year would be the year my life was turned upside down, it was the year I became broken, but God put me back together in a much more beautiful frame. I'm not perfect, but I am not who I was, and for that I thank God!

So when this November rolled around I jumped at the opportunity to share with others what I am thankful for and be determined that if on a particular day that wasn't the best, I would find the good in it anyways and give God the thanks.

Have you ever truly thought about what you are thankful for? Perhaps you still own your home after the threat of near foreclosure in the past. Perhaps your children are healthy while you know someone's who are not. Maybe you have been married to your husband for several years and can give God praise that He has lifted your marriage out of the pit several times. Maybe you can thank Him for the promotion at work or the new job that has come through after a devastating layoff. Perhaps you can thank God for that special friend that the Lord brought into your life that has lifted your spirits and helped you in your time of need with wisdom and prayer. Or maybe you can thank God for the new creation He has created in you, the new heart and new mind that is continually being transformed by the truth of His word and the power of the Holy Spirit.

The most powerful form of spiritual warfare is living your life and enjoying every minute of it. That takes determination to wake up every day and ask God to help you keep your joy no matter what may come your way that day and even in the monotony of the daily chores and routines. Giving praise to the Lord can break off any spirit of heaviness. Living your life in a thankful manner each and every day will make bad days much harder to come by. Be thankful in the little things, not just the big.

Make the decision every morning to live your day out with a spirit of thanksgiving for your family, job, home, and the journey. You may not be where you want to be...maybe you wish for a bigger house or a more understanding spouse or a job that doesn't have such a terrible commute, but when we can learn to be content with where we are on the way to where we are going, it makes the journey much more enjoyable along the way.

Today's video is going to be different, it is not a song but a testimony of someone who was able to give thanks to God for instant miraculous healing while he was reading scripture. Duane Miller was teaching a Sunday School class and after being stricken with a severe vocal chord virus that left his throat raspy, was healed while reading Psalm 103. Enjoy and let it bless your heart as it did mine. Give thanks to a God who still works miracles!