This morning I was about to go out into the garden and greenhouse when God stopped me with the word " thankfulness' " again. Thankfulness or gratitude is akin to peace.
In Leviticus 3 we see that a thanksgiving offering was brought to God as an expression of thanks for His blessings, healing or help in difficult times. Shalom, the Hebrew word for peace is a rich term that includes the ideas of physical health, emotional wellbeing and spiritual wholeness.
The person bringing the offering of thanksgiving was expressing faith and thanks that God had provided what was lacking in his life. It was an act of praise that God had restored him to completeness and harmony with both God and other people.
How can we thank God for the peace He has brought inti our lives?
The importance of a public expression of thanks to God. God wants us to praise Him before others too.
This public expression of gratitude will not only enhance our spiritual growth but be a first step to helping others.
SHOWING GRATITUDE TO OTHERS. it shows others that we appreciate their help and that we are not fooling ourselves that our progress was accomplished on our own. We should continually express our thanks to those who have helped us. God, family, friends and whoever.
PSALM 92 How comforting to know that when we turn to God and cry out to Him, God will rescue and protect us, as a mother bird protects her young. Our powerful defender will never fail us if we turn to Him for shelter and safety.
IT IS GOOD TO GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD.
PSALM 116 I BELIEVED IN YOU AS I PRAYED. What can I offer The Lord for all He has done for me? How wonderful that God hears and answers the prayers of those that turn to Him in distress. When we realise Lord the dangers we have sometimes been in, and not recognised, then we have called on you, you have saved us.
The natural response to this realisation should be praise to God.
Express your love for Jesus in the best way you know how.
There will be people who think we are foolish for expressing our gratitude to God, but, we should continue to praise Him because He is the one who is working for our restoration, and it gives us a chance to tell others what God has done for us. God loves our praise!
Jesus has great compassion for those who are hurting, and His desire is to make them whole.
Gratefulness is part of our healing!
Prayer
O God, I was about to go out into the garden and the greenhouse, and you stopped me in my tracks again, with the word " thankfulness."
It made me think that thankfulness, or gratitude is akin to peace. A peace that comes when we are thankful in any situation.
I couldn't stop thinking how much I had to be thankful for, and how easy it is to be ungrateful, just taking things for granted.
Lord, when we think about this we we can see how we lose our peace of mind, when we are selfish or ungrateful . And so we come to you now and ask for your forgiveness when we have maybe been without gratitude to you and others.
In Leviticus 3 we see that an offering was brought to you as a thanksgiving offering for your blessings, healing and help in difficult situations. That means we all have so much to thank you for. None of us can say that we have not been blessed, healed or helped. So we have so much to say " thank you Lord" for.
This morning we bring our offering of thankfulness and praise to you O God. You provide all that is lacking in our lives. You restore us to completeness and harmony. How can we thank you enough for the peace you bring into our lives!
Lord, Psalm 92 reminds us how comforting it is to know that when we turn to you and cry out to you , you rescue and protect us, just as a mother bird protects her young. You are out powerful defender who will never fail us when we turn to you for shelter and safety. Thank You Lord!
But, Father this morning we think of so many people in need of you today. Those who are troubled, and hurting in so many ways. Lord, we know that you hear and answer those who turn to you in distress. So we turn to you on behalf of those in distress at present, come into their lives. Lord, help them to see their need of you and so come to you for healing in every sense. We know that you have compassion for those who are hurting, and you have a desire to make them whole. And so Lord we bring our praise to you in anticipation of you're answers to our prayers. If we are to be a part of the answers, help us to be willing participants.
Lord, give us what we need to share with others what you have done for us, and show us what we can do for you, in gratitude and praise. Amen.
Prayer
You alone are the King of kings, The Lord of Lords we praise. You alone reign in majesty, and our voice to you we raise. Singing Praise to The Lord, Praise to the King, worship His Holy name. You are The Lord, you are the King, you are forever the same.
Heavenly Father, just to know you are the same today, tomorrow and forever is so comforting. To know nothing changes with you. You are nor fickle and changing the goal posts. You are sound, unswerving in your love for us. No one could be more dependable or honest than you.
Lord, we confess to not always wanting to heed your prompting, when our self will comes into play, but we thank you that you gently restore us to the path you have made for us. Help us to keep walking in your light with a steady tread. Help us to undearstand other people's walk, and if and when they need a helping hand.
Father God, we pray for a greater appetite for prayer and for your word. Your word that is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Help us to be fervent in this, not just in times of trouble, but every day, so that we will be strong and able to speak your words at the right time.
Lord, both in prayer and the reading of your word, may we always say, " speak Lord, your servant is listening," We want to hear your voice in whatever way it is displayed to us. Help us not to be afraid of what it might reveal to us about the condition of our hearts, but have a willingness to work with you in any restoration required.
O God, help us to be willing followers - true participants in your will and purposes. We want not only to build up our own lives, but to help build up the lives of others, and to build your Church in the areas you have put us.
O God, we want to see this area, this valley, this country, this world, lit up for you. Show us what you want us to say and do, and when and how. As your Church we need to be that strong beacon of light, a humble praying people. Help us to be just that, in Jesus name, AmenIrene