1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice at all times. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (NIV)
As we draw nearer to Thanksgiving, have you begun thinking about thankfulness? Sometimes we get so overwhelmed with the knit-picky details of the day we forget all the many blessings we have already received. Other times, we look around and see those with more than we will ever have and believe God has not been fair in handing out His “things.” My friend, God doesn’t have pockets. His blessings are not the tangible assets of this world. However, He can open doors we had no idea were even there. We have to be willing to step through the portal to a new way of being.
I remember a fellow who told me, “Honestly, Dr.
Rapp, I never buy lottery tickets. But, one time I needed several hundred dollars
for an unexpected bill. While going to visit my mom one sunny Saturday, I pulled
into a service station about fifty miles away from home. I didn’t know anyone
in the area, so no one I knew would catch me “gambling.” As I handed the
cashier a dollar, I couldn’t even make eye contact. I was a middle-aged man but
felt like a ten year old, caught with their hand on Momma’s purse. I grabbed
the ticket and hurried out to my car. Two-hundred dollars would be enough to
cover what I needed, so I prayed for that specific amount as I fished for a
coin for the scratch off. There it was, a $35.00 winning. I would have to go
back in the store to cash it in. But, I didn’t. God didn’t answer my prayer. I
needed a lot more than $35.00. I jammed the ticket into my shirt pocket and
drove off. Then, I realized what I had done and my guilt exploded. I had not rejoiced
in His gift for me, but had turned down a real blessing from God.”
How many times has God answered our prayers but we
didn’t get what we wanted so we refused what He offered? For today, let us pray
for the humbleness to recognize the presence of God when He whispers in the darkness
of the night, or offers a blessing we hadn’t “ordered.” Let us pray:
“Oh loving and generous father, I rejoice and give
thanks for all you are and all you give. Your name is hold and precious, above
all names. I surrender to your will in my life and recognize that all you give me
are to help me become who you intend for me to be. For this day, I ask for
sight-of-the-heart to see your blessings, gentle hands to touch and heal the
wounds of a friend, and hearing tuned to your voice above the clatter of the
world. Forgive me for putting my desires above your perfect plan. Let me
not fall back into self-centeredness but let me focus on you. For only you hold
the power of creating and recreating within me a new heart. In the name of
Jesus, your son and my savior I pray. Amen”
Blessings,
Doris
Copyright
2019 Doris Gaines Rapp
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