Thanksgiving has come and gone, but I am still thinking about how much I have to be thankful for. I have been participating in the "30 days of Thanks" on Facebook, so each and every day I have thoughtfully been in prayer about what I do feel thankful for,and it has been overwhelming to say the least to really stop and think about it everyday. Do you ever do that? Ever stop and think about what is good and right and what is a blessing in your life?
It's so easy to grumble about the little things that happen to us each day, but when we actually stand back and look at our lives, but especially for me, I have SO, SO very much to be thankful for each day. I need to fall on my face before His Holiness and say Thank you Jesus and that is what I am doing!
The Bible is very clear about giving thanks in everything, but can we really do that?1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." But, is it humanly possible to be thankful when everything in your life seems to be falling apart?
It's so very important and it can really change the way you look at everything. When something terrible happens to you or someone you love, if you look at it from the standpoint that God is in control, not you, it will give you an entirely different perspective. If you are able to give up your control or what you perceive as control, you can find incredible peace in knowing that someone bigger than you holds the reigns. For example, if you think that the same God that set and stars and moon in place is in charge of your little problem, it helps you put things in perspective. Just remember us and our problems are like grains of sand in the beach to God Almighty. Nothing is impossible with Him.
I know this first hand because it happened to me. When I was going through that difficult time of getting my MS diagnosis back in late 1997, the local doctors at first diagnosed me with brain cancer. I went through a month of test after test, seeing doctor after doctor. A brain biopsy on Christmas Eve 1997 culminated the month of horrors.
I had been having headaches, brain fog, couldn't talk and was tripping over everything. When that first neurologist that I went to to misdiagnosed me with brain cancer ( I didn't know it at the time) right there and then I gave it to God. I said Lord, this is totally out of my control. I don't know how much time I have left, but you do. I want to thank you for my life and I know that you are in control of all, including me. I want to spend my remaining time living for you and totally trusting in you. I'm giving it it over to you Jesus, you take the wheel, please!
It's ok to say, Jesus take the Wheel! He can handle it.
Even in the midst of what could have been the worst time in my life, I felt incredible peace. You may find that hard to believe, but it was absolutely true. It definitely was something I couldn't explain. I had many people I knew that were totally blown away. They couldn't understand how I could be so calm and be at peace when something so terrible was happening to me, when my life was in such disarray, and I didn't know from day to day what each new test would bring. But I was serenely calm. I had people all over the world praying for me. I had prayer warriors lifting me up to the Lord each day. I slept just fine. I was facing brain surgery and I was cool as a cucumber. I truly did have the "peace of God" upon me. I felt like angels where circling my bed each night.I was totally enveloped in God's loving arms. I was a walking testimony for His peace.It really was an incredible time for me.
That, my friends, was totally a God-Thing as I like to call them. He gave me what He said He would if I thanked Him and left it to Him. He kept His promise as He always does. He is so faithful. What an awesome God we serve! Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Give thanks in everything~
In closing, let me encourage you to give it a try. It can work for you too. You can have that same peace that I did. It is a peace like no other and a peace that you can't get from this world. If you have something in your life that is worrying you, give it to God. He has some really big shoulders and He can handle it. He wants to handle it! He wants to help you, but you have to ask Him. He is a total gentleman. He will not interfere unless you seek His face and then you will find Him. That is a promise! Matthew 7:7 reminds us: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."
If you live your life in thankfulness, in the good times and bad, it can add a new dimension to everything. Trust and obey and let God take care of all the details, big and little. Try it, it can change your life forever!
My verses for today are above in red.
My prayer for today:
Dear Heavenly Father:
I am so thankful for everything that you give me each day. You provide all my necessities and every detail without me having to worry about it. Thank you Lord for handling everything through my beloved husband. He is truly my guardian angel sent by you. Please Lord, watch over him, give him strength and comfort each day to handle everything he does. I know I am blessed to have him take care of me. Thank you Lord.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
It's so easy to grumble about the little things that happen to us each day, but when we actually stand back and look at our lives, but especially for me, I have SO, SO very much to be thankful for each day. I need to fall on my face before His Holiness and say Thank you Jesus and that is what I am doing!
The Bible is very clear about giving thanks in everything, but can we really do that?1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." But, is it humanly possible to be thankful when everything in your life seems to be falling apart?
It's so very important and it can really change the way you look at everything. When something terrible happens to you or someone you love, if you look at it from the standpoint that God is in control, not you, it will give you an entirely different perspective. If you are able to give up your control or what you perceive as control, you can find incredible peace in knowing that someone bigger than you holds the reigns. For example, if you think that the same God that set and stars and moon in place is in charge of your little problem, it helps you put things in perspective. Just remember us and our problems are like grains of sand in the beach to God Almighty. Nothing is impossible with Him.
I know this first hand because it happened to me. When I was going through that difficult time of getting my MS diagnosis back in late 1997, the local doctors at first diagnosed me with brain cancer. I went through a month of test after test, seeing doctor after doctor. A brain biopsy on Christmas Eve 1997 culminated the month of horrors.
I had been having headaches, brain fog, couldn't talk and was tripping over everything. When that first neurologist that I went to to misdiagnosed me with brain cancer ( I didn't know it at the time) right there and then I gave it to God. I said Lord, this is totally out of my control. I don't know how much time I have left, but you do. I want to thank you for my life and I know that you are in control of all, including me. I want to spend my remaining time living for you and totally trusting in you. I'm giving it it over to you Jesus, you take the wheel, please!
Even in the midst of what could have been the worst time in my life, I felt incredible peace. You may find that hard to believe, but it was absolutely true. It definitely was something I couldn't explain. I had many people I knew that were totally blown away. They couldn't understand how I could be so calm and be at peace when something so terrible was happening to me, when my life was in such disarray, and I didn't know from day to day what each new test would bring. But I was serenely calm. I had people all over the world praying for me. I had prayer warriors lifting me up to the Lord each day. I slept just fine. I was facing brain surgery and I was cool as a cucumber. I truly did have the "peace of God" upon me. I felt like angels where circling my bed each night.I was totally enveloped in God's loving arms. I was a walking testimony for His peace.It really was an incredible time for me.
That, my friends, was totally a God-Thing as I like to call them. He gave me what He said He would if I thanked Him and left it to Him. He kept His promise as He always does. He is so faithful. What an awesome God we serve! Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
In closing, let me encourage you to give it a try. It can work for you too. You can have that same peace that I did. It is a peace like no other and a peace that you can't get from this world. If you have something in your life that is worrying you, give it to God. He has some really big shoulders and He can handle it. He wants to handle it! He wants to help you, but you have to ask Him. He is a total gentleman. He will not interfere unless you seek His face and then you will find Him. That is a promise! Matthew 7:7 reminds us: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."
If you live your life in thankfulness, in the good times and bad, it can add a new dimension to everything. Trust and obey and let God take care of all the details, big and little. Try it, it can change your life forever!
My verses for today are above in red.
My prayer for today:
Dear Heavenly Father:
I am so thankful for everything that you give me each day. You provide all my necessities and every detail without me having to worry about it. Thank you Lord for handling everything through my beloved husband. He is truly my guardian angel sent by you. Please Lord, watch over him, give him strength and comfort each day to handle everything he does. I know I am blessed to have him take care of me. Thank you Lord.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
thank you for sharing your thoughts and wisdom Nicki. Have you been approached or have you thought of putting your collection of "meditations" "thoughts for the time" whatever you call them into print? I believe you can inspire and motivate others with struggles to lean on the Lord cuz He's there for us. May God continue to give you His words to share with others.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless you.
You Go Girl!
Love
Norma