by Desiree Bustamante

Knowing God through thankfulness.

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

“The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.”
Psalm 28:7 New Living Translation

It’s a little over a week until Thanksgiving. Have you started your Thanksgiving list yet? No, not the one listing the ingredients you need for Thanksgiving dinner, or the seating arrangement around the family table. Have you created a list of those things that you are thankful for that God has blessed you with over the last year?

Now you might think this is redundant, since I’m sure you thank God every day for His provision. You might have thanked God for carrying you through a challenging time or returning a rebellious child to you. In good times and in hard times, through the ups and downs of life, you’ve been thankful.

But have you ever asked God what He desires you to thank Him for? Is there something in your life that He asks you to recognize as uniquely from Him that might be outside the norm of your everyday prayers? Maybe he wants to shine light on a time where His mercy and favor changed your life, yet it was lost in life’s daily routine. Has He restored peace or healing to your heart and soul gradually over time so it might have gone unnoticed?

We don’t always see or truly understand the endless ways that God blesses us, shows us favor, or showers us with abundant mercy. If we approach Him with humility and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal all God has done for us this past year, then our hearts will burst with joyful thanksgiving for His gracious work completed in us. We can truly experience the depth of Jesus’ love toward us that we can then share with those who desperately seek the same grace and mercy from God.

So, what does God want you to be thankful for?

Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado