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Thank You, Lord
Psalm 145:10 (NLT)
All of your works will thank you, Lord, and your faithful followers will bless you.
DEVOTIONAL
The end of every year should make us reflective. It’s a time to think about all that has happened, what we’ve accomplished, what is yet undone, and how we’d like to move forward. For many, it’s a time to think about resolutions for the new year, but making promises to ourselves that seem far-fetched and difficult to maintain only leaves us feeling defeated. Resolutions seldom get to the root of what we actually need. Before we make promises, let’s give thanks. A thankful heart can fuel our actions and intentions.
Despite all we’ve been through God has been good. There have been challenging realities, we’ve been pushed to our limits, have come face-to-face with what we truly believe, and have hopefully learned more about ourselves than we’ve ever known.
The world stood still for a moment. Only God could do that. Our sanity is intact despite our losses. That could only happen by the hand of God. Food on our tables, a place to lay our heads, and people to care for are just a few of the benefits of the life that God has allowed.
We’ve lived through disease, deaths, social unrest, financial challenges, and separation from the people we love- but the key is that we’ve lived through it. God’s mercy has been extended to us day after day (Lamentations 3:22-23). We have so much to be thankful for.
So, as we close one year and look forward to the next, let’s be careful not to curse the experiences we’ve had. We may not understand all that’s happened, and we may even question the relevance of the events, but let’s remind ourselves that God does and allows many things that make no sense to the human mind and heart. He can use our good, bad, and mediocre experiences to our benefit (Romans 8:28). In fact, He has a way of using the worst of times to develop and expose the best of ourselves to the people in our circles of influence.
Let’s practice being reflective and consider how the events of this year can inform the way we live in the new year. Consider these questions and journal and pray about your responses:
~What experiences have had the greatest impact on me?
~What do I sense God saying to me about those experiences?
~How can I use those experiences to grow and live well every day?
~What can I do to remain grateful despite my circumstances?
~How can I share the best of myself with others?
Let’s look back on this year with thankfulness and look forward with hope. God has been present and will continue to do His work in our lives despite how things look or feel. Now is the time to exercise our privilege by saying, “Thank you, Lord” and by continuing to move in His direction.
Prayer
Lord, Thank you for being an every present help (Psalm 46:1) and constant presence throughout the year. Help us to be moved by your presence and not by our circumstances. We trust you with all of our tomorrows.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen
Live well,
Michele
Also Read, “Let It Go!”
Amen Chele! In spite of losses, illness, social unrest, financial worries, COVID-19, the list goes on and on…God is still good and He is making all things work together for good to those that love Him. He is the constant in our ever changing day-to-day. He is with us in every situation and circumstance today and always. Thank you for this reminder today.
Amen!