The Power of Being Thankful: 365 Devotions for Discovering the Strength of Gratitude (74 page)

Everything God asks us to do is for our good. All of His instructions to us are intended to show us the way to righteousness, peace, and joy.

Jesus didn’t die for us so we can have a religion, but so we can have a deep and intimate personal relationship with God through Him. He wants us to live with, through, and for Him. He created us for fellowship with Him—that is something to be thankful for!

The thing many people fail to realize is that they can never be fulfilled or have the satisfaction they desire apart from God. He created us for His pleasure and delight. He gives us life as a gift, and if we will freely offer it back to Him, then and only then can we live it fully and joyfully.

I thank You today, Father, for the gift of relationship with You through Christ Jesus. I am so grateful that everything You ask of me is for my benefit and good. Thank You that You have a wonderful plan for my life.

Faith allows us to rest—both mentally and emotionally. Even our will gets a rest when we have faith in God. We don’t worry or reason, we are not upset or downcast, and we are not trying to make something happen that is not God’s will—we are thankful that God is in control so that we can rest!

Paul sang praises to God while he was in jail. Jesus prayed for others while He was being crucified. Joseph decided that if he was going to be a slave, he would be the best slave his owner ever had. All throughout Scripture, we see the connection between faith, gratitude, and rest.

We need to be honest about what the real cause of our stress is. Is it really our circumstances in life, or is it the way we respond to the circumstances? There is a rest that comes with gratitude and faith. This is a rest we can live in every day.

I thank You today, Father, that I can live in rest. I don’t have to worry or be downcast when I face challenges. Thank You that I can have faith, knowing that You are the One in control.

Worry is totally useless. As I often say, it is like rocking in a rocking chair all day—it keeps you busy, but gets you nowhere. When we begin to look at worry in a realistic manner, we see what a complete waste it is. Our minds revolve endlessly around and around a problem, searching for answers that only God has. Pondering something in God’s grace is peaceful, but worry is tormenting.

We can pray and ask God to help us not to worry, but ultimately, we must choose to put our thoughts on something other than our problems. A refusal to worry is proof that we trust God—it releases Him to go to work on our behalf. If you are willing to give up worrying, then you will be able to enter into an attitude of celebration and thanksgiving. You can trust God and enjoy life while He solves your problems. Give yourself permission to stop worrying.

Father, thank You for the gift of peace. Help me to focus on You rather than focusing on my problems. I thank You that I don’t have to let worry rule my life; I can choose to live with peace by trusting in You.

As Christians, we should learn to be good at forgiving people, because we will be doing it all of our lives. The truth is, when we forgive, we are actually doing ourselves a favor. Thankfully, God has given us a way to free ourselves from the agony of anger and pain that come with unforgiveness—we can choose to forgive.

As long as we live, we will encounter people who hurt us, reject us, disappoint us, use the wrong tone of voice with us, fail to understand us, or let us down in times of need. Those experiences are part of human nature and they are part of the territory that comes with relationships. Why should we ruin our lives over other people’s bad behavior? We can take the high road in Christ and forgive!

Father, I thank You that my peace and joy are not determined by the actions of others. With Your help, I can forgive those who offend or hurt me. Thank You, Father, that You have forgiven me and You give me the grace to forgive others.

J
OYCE
M
EYER
is one of the world’s leading practical Bible teachers. Her TV and radio broadcast,
Enjoying Everyday Life
, airs on hundreds of television networks and radio stations worldwide.

Joyce has written more than 100 inspirational books. Her bestsellers include
God Is Not Mad at You; Making Good Habits, Breaking Bad Habits; Do Yourself a Favor… Forgive; Living Beyond Your Feelings; Power Thoughts; Battlefield of the Mind; Look Great, Feel Great; The Confident Woman; I Dare You;
and
Never Give Up!

Joyce travels extensively, holding conferences throughout the year, speaking to thousands around the world.

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