Tag: thanksgiving
God’s Healing Word!
Scripture reading for September 22: Psalm 107:17-21 “Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. He sent out His Word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. Let them thank the Lord for His steadfast love, and for His wondrous works to the children of man!”
Luke 7:6-7 “”Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the Word, and let my servant be healed.””
Psalm 107 encourages those helped and delivered by the Lord to testify of God’s saving grace. The verses we are reading today tell of a foolish person who through their own sinful ways had encountered consequences of severe affliction that brought them near to death. They had no appetite and no hope, but in this extreme distress, they called upon the Lord. God hears and quickly answers, by sending His Word to heal them and deliver them from the destruction of dying in their sins. It is interesting to note that God didn’t withhold His Word of healing because this sickness was a result of personal sins. His grace was extended to this one who humbly asked without merit. This healing deserves great thanksgiving and testimony of God’s wonderous mercy to all mankind!
In Luke’s Gospel, he records the story of the centurion who asked Jesus to come heal his servant who was at death’s door. As Jesus went, the centurion sent messengers to ask Jesus to not come but only say the Word. Even as a Gentile, he understood authority and the power of a Word of God. As a centurion, he commanded a hundred men using his voice to speak instruction. Jesus marveled at his faith and sent His Word and the servant was healed instantly. These events are recorded Word’s of God to bring faith to His people. We can receive healing by faith in God’s eternal Word, Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh! (John 1:14)
Prayer: Thank You Father for sending Your Word in the form of Your Son. As He has demonstrated and spoken, His Word brings healing and deliverance. I receive this Word! Amen!
Rejoicing in Worship
Scripture reading for September 18: Psalm 100:2-5 “Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into His presence with singing! Know that the Lord, He is God! It is He Who made us, and we are His; We are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His Name! For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever and His faithfulness to all generations.”
Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”
When a person is sick and under attack from disease, it is not easy to rejoice and be glad. Why would God place this psalm in the worship manual for His people? Why would the apostle Paul tell the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord–always? Let’s look into this instruction and see how it helps those who are weighted down.
The psalmist wrote to call God’s people to worship Him. Worship shouldn’t depend on our circumstances, health, or location. God’s people can enjoy His presence at all times under the New Covenant. In the psalmist’s time, the temple was the place to meet with God. A thankful heart always sets the tone for coming before God. We can thank Him because He is God! There is none beside Him! He made us and created us to be His people. As His people, our Lord as a Shepherd, cares for each person. He is a ‘Good’ Shepherd and loves His sheep. He faithfully leads them to green pastures and to quiet waters. He restores each soul and feeds them with encouragement and love. God never changes so this applies to all generations.
The apostle Paul, in Philippians, was in jail and faced possible execution. He wrote to the church to encourage them. As they met together, they became the temple and God was in their midst. This was cause for rejoicing in the Lord! They could rejoice always, because they gave their worries to God in prayer and His peace guarded their hearts. God would meet all of their needs and empower them in difficult circumstances. They must learn to rejoice always to overcome and enter His eternal kingdom.
Prayer: Father God, I cast all my anxieties on You because You care for me. I come thankfully into Your presence with praise and joy, delighting in Your eternal goodness! Amen.
Day 4–The Meal of Thanksgiving
Scripture reading for April 16: Matthew 26:26-29 “Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat’ this is My body.” And He took a cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is My blood of the Covenant, which is poured out for man for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.””
Today’s Scripture gives an account of the ‘Last Supper’ Jesus had with His disciples before His crucifixion. The church has called the celebration of this meal the “Eucharist”, which is translated “Thanksgiving” because Jesus thanked God for the bread and the cup before He offered it to His disciples.
Jesus was demonstrating as a their Lord the heart of thanksgiving that He had for doing the will of His Father. He would give His own body to be beaten, mutilated, and nailed to a rough cross. He did this willingly and thankfully, knowing by faith that this alone would bring deliverance from death to those who would believe. He would shed His own blood as the final sacrifice for those sinners who would repent and trust in the New Covenant that He was soon to ratify. His blood was for the forgiveness of sins. He thanked God the Father for the Gift of the bread, representing His body, and the cup, representing His blood. He gave it to His disciples to take and eat.
His final statement was to tell His disciples that He would not drink this fruit of the vine until that day that He would drink it with them in the resurrection glory of Father’s kingdom. This provided vision for a prophetic pronouncement of Christ’s return in glory for His people. The promise is affirmed for believers each time we celebrate the ‘Eucharist’!
Prayer: Father, as a first responder, help me to thankfully offer my own body and if necessary, my life for doing Your will. Like Jesus, I willfully surrender to Your will and await the promise of Your return and the joy of eating this meal with You in Your glory. Amen.
Beware of deceitful spirits!
Scripture reading for September 29: 1 Timothy 4
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teaching of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the Word of God and prayer.” 1 Timothy 4:1-5
We often think of cultural anomalies and local superstitions as harmless but they can have demonic spirits behind them. Paul told Timothy to be careful by repeating a warning the Holy Spirit revealed to him. In the later times, nearer to Christ’s return, demonic spirits would be active in bringing deception over people and holding them in darkness through religious means. Some would forbid marriage and promote all kinds of living arrangements that were actually teachings of demons. Adultery, fornication, and homosexuality would be examples mentioned in Scripture.
Other false spirits might require certain diets to be followed and forbid certain foods in order to be accepted. This appears harmless, but God’s Word teaches that all foods have been declared clean by God under the New Covenant. They are made holy by the Word of God and prayer. That is why we pray over our food, thanking God for His provision. Examples of this might be vegetarianism, keeping Jewish laws on clean and unclean foods, or teaching that certain foods defile us spiritually. When we believe and know the truth, we are set free from these deceiving spirits and the bondage that comes from them. This doesn’t mean that God cannot direct us to abstain from certain foods that our bodies can’t tolerate. We are called to a life of freedom and grace that rests in Christ’s finished work on our behalf. Everything we do is to be by faith to the glory of God.
Have you ever been in bondage to a deceiving spirit or come under a doctrine of demons? Are you now living in freedom and under grace? From this passage, what deceiving spirits are operating in our culture during our lifetime?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for illuminating the world of evil spirits and how they are set to bring deception and bondage. Thank You for delivering me from seducing spirits of human effort and good works for true salvation by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Use me to declare Your victory. Amen.
“New songs” of worship!
Scripture reading for June 20: Psalm 90-97
Psalms 95-97 are focused on the glory of God and on worship! I enjoy these psalms because of their joy and rejoicing in God, Himself. They call mankind and nature into the chorus of worship that belongs to God Who is worthy of all praise!
Praise can take many forms. Singing for joy and shouting out loud our thanksgiving is mentioned in Psalm 95:1. We have so much to be thankful for and God is the source of all blessings! (Psalm 95:2) God’s people are urged to bow down in worship and kneel before their maker. (Psalm 95:6) Our posture, as well as our voices, instruments, and songs, indicates humility and honor.
Psalm 96 opens with an exhortation to sing a ‘new song’ to the Lord. It might be a song of praise and thanksgiving, or a song of proclamation concerning His salvation and mighty works. His people are to declare His glory among the nations of the earth. All other nations and peoples have gods that are idols, but Israel alone knew the One true God Who was worthy of praise! (Psalm 96:8) God was so arrayed in glory and majesty that a new song would come to those who contemplated His beauty and strength!
The Holy Spirit’s infilling often brings a new level of worship to the believer. From the Spirit comes a new song bringing praise to the King! (Ephesians 5:18-20) At times in different corporate worship settings, I have experienced the Spirit bringing forth a ‘new song’ from the congregation that took us into the heavenly realm and put us in harmony with those worshiping around the throne! This is a special and blessed experience!
In Psalms 96 and 97, all of creation joins in the worship chorus! The heavens rejoice and the earth is glad, the sea resounds and all the creatures in it at the glory of the Lord. The fields are jubilant and the trees sing in harmony as the Lord comes. The clouds surround Him. Fire goes before Him and lightning lights up the world! Mountains melt like wax in His presence and the earth sees Him and trembles! All the peoples see His Glory and His people rejoice and are glad. Those worshiping idols are put to shame! For God comes to judge the earth and the peoples in righteousness and truth!
Take time today to offer heartfelt worship to the Lord! He is truly worthy of our praise! Do a self-evaluation of your readinesss to see Him as Savior and Judge!
War in heaven, the devil on earth!
Scripture reading for December 15th: Revelation 12, Psalm 100, Ecclesiastes 2
Revelation 12: 7-12 “Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world–he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.””
John now writes about war in the heavenly realm. There was conflict between God’s powerful angels and Satan and his rebellious angels. There was victory for God’s angels and Satan was cast out of heaven and down to earth. Satan would no longer be allowed to accuse God’s people before the throne. The kingdom rule of God and Christ was in charge. But the accuser would attack God’s people on earth. They would overcome him through standing in faith in the victory of the cross through Jesus Christ’s shed blood and their testimony of faith. They would stay true, even if it cost their lives! In standing firm, victory was assured and they would enter God’s heavenly gates with thanksgiving and praise for His love and deliverance!
Psalm 100:4-5 “Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His Name! For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the promise of our victory through the blood of Your Son, our Lamb! I will cling to Jesus Christ as my testimony of salvation. Give me grace today and each day to resist temptation and thankfully enjoy life under the leadership of Your Holy Spirit. Give grace to brothers and sisters around the world under the devil’s attack. Reveal Jesus Christ as the conquering Lamb!
Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 “There is nothing better for a person that that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, is from the hand of God, for apart from Him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?”
Enriched to be generous!
Scripture reading for September 4th: 2nd Corinthians 9, Psalm 26, Proverbs 21
2nd Corinthians 9: 10-15 “He Who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the Gospel of Christ and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for His inexpressible Gift!”
When we by faith put our lives in God’s hands through faith in Jesus Christ, we are adopted into God’s family. We then have God as our Father pouring out blessings on us as His children. God is the great Giver, supplying seed to the sower and bread for all of His creation. Now as His children, we have vision to see His abundant supply. Paul stated it like this: “You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.” Paul was encouraging the Corinthians to give to those in need as God had poured out His blessing on them. This act of giving would produce thanksgiving to God and blessing for them and God would again pour out new blessings so that this cycle of giving and blessing and thanksgiving might continue to the glory of God!
Psalm 26:11-12 “But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me. My foot stands on level ground; in the great assembly I will bless the Lord.”
Prayer: Father God, the Great Giver of seed and bread, thank You for giving first to me the understanding of Your great generosity in the Gift of Your Son. Help me to grow in understanding of the great riches I have in Christ Jesus and to grow in this grace of giving. Turn my heart to give to Your work and to those in need. May all that is given bring glory to You and increase thanksgiving and worship! Amen!
Proverbs 21:1 “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He will.”
Generosity produces a great harvest!
Scripture reading for September 28th: Jeremiah 1-4, Psalm 130, 2nd Corinthians 9
2nd Corinthians 9: 10-15 “He Who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the Gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!”
Paul spoke to believers in Corinth who were familiar with an agrarian culture. He reminded them of the law of sowing and reaping. He reminded the Corinthians that it was God that supplied the seed for sowing and it was also God that caused the seed to sprout and produce the wheat to supply their bread to eat. Not only enough to eat, but more seed for next year’s sowing! Our giving is like that sowing of seed. As we wait on God, in time it produces a harvest of righteousness as we please God through our willing generosity. It produces thanksgiving in those receiving the gifts and they thank God for the givers and God for supplying! The givers receive blessings from God in more seed for sowing so that the harvest may overflow continuously! The harvest is promised by God the Giver of His only Son!
Psalm 130:5-7 “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His Word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with Him is plentiful redemption.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your indescribable Gift, Jesus Christ our Lord! Your giving and extreme generosity inspires me to also bless others. Thank You for teaching me to trust you through this teaching on sowing and reaping. I am learning to joyfully sow and trust You for the promised harvest of righteousness, bread for my family, and more seed to sow! Let the harvest overflow with thanksgiving!
Jeremiah 1:11-12 “And the Word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see an almond branch.” Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over My Word to perform it.””
The blessedness of God’s people!
Scripture reading for February 8th: Exodus 19-21, Psalm 33, Ephesians 5
Ephesians 5:15-21 “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of your time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to the God the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
God’s chosen and called-out people are His “heritage” and “treasured possession”, more valuable than anything else in creation. God owns it all and His Word is His will. Through the Apostle Paul, God calls His people to walk with Him in this world in wisdom and understanding of His will and Word. They are to be filled with His gift of the Holy Spirit and the flow of the Spirit would bring worship, holy respect for God and others, joy and thanksgiving. There would be truly the abundant life here on earth as His Church was being fitted for eternity in God’s presence. The most blessed of all people are those marked with the Holy Spirit and filled with the Spirit! They are blessed with an abundant life and seek to obey God’s voice!
Exodus 19:5-6 “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your amazing counsel that is established forever to guide and bless and warn and correct Your beloved people. Remind me often that I am Your treasured possession and I belong to You. Use me as a priest to intercede for Your people and for the lost of this world who are drunk on its pleasures and the flesh. Fill me afresh today with the Holy Spirit and let psalms and hymns and spiritual songs flow from my heart with thanksgiving.
Psalm 33:11-12 “The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen as His heritage!”
Peace through prayer!
Scripture reading for June 26th: 1st Kings 7, 2nd Chronicles 4, Psalm 44, 1st Timothy 2
Key Scriptures: 1st Timothy 2:1-6 “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, Who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.”
Paul urged Timothy to be a man of prayer and lead God’s people in prayer. Prayers should be given for all people and especially for those in positions of authority. God is pleased when His people exercise faith through prayer and grants answers that lead to peace and the ability to share the Gospel message with all men. Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and men, but believers must appeal to Jesus on behalf of all men! The treasury must be filled with precious souls!
1st Kings 8:51 “Thus all the work that King Solomon did on the house of the Lord was finished. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, the silver, the gold, and the vessels, and stored them in the treasuries of the house of the Lord.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord, empower me to be a man of prayer who leads your people in prayer. Thank You for Your promises of peace and the salvation of men and women through the Gospel.
Psalm 44:8 “In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to Your Name forever.”