by Richelle Hecker

Giving Thanks in Every Circumstance

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link. 

I’ve been practicing a new prayer exercise. My mind bounces from one thought to another in no particular order and I struggle with focusing on one subject at a time. It is no surprise then that my prayer time frequently works the same way. I begin in one area and end in an unexpected place. This November, I was inspired to spend dedicated time to prayers of thankfulness only. I discovered that my prayers of thanks are frequently accompanied by requests and it was extremely difficult to focus on thanks alone.

I am not implying that it is wrong to make requests from God. However, in this exercise I found it difficult to stop and focus solely on thankfulness for even a short amount of time. Redirecting my prayers to concentrated thankfulness helped me discover how much more I have to be thankful for, and new ways of viewing problematic circumstances.

This photo is focused on the tree roots covering an already challenging path on a hike that includes a long trail behind as well as a steep climb ahead. This tree represents obstacles we all face as we journey through life. We stop at a circumstance, perhaps thanking God for getting us this far, and then ask Him to either remove the difficulty in our path or give us the strength to endure it. Seldom do we observe all of the blessings in the picture that surround the focal point obstruction.

It is a matter of moving from asking God to provide the means and ability to overcome a problem, to thanking God for already preparing us for it. Thank Him for the training and strengthening of the past He brought you through that equips you for the present and future before you now. You’ll be amazed at how small and faded that obstacle becomes when you redirect your focus to all the blessings provided around it.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Colossians 3:17 New International Version