Give Thanks for
He Is Worthy of Our Thanks!
This week in the United States of America we celebrate Thanksgiving. This fourth Thursday in November was originally a day set aside to give thanks to our Creator for His bountiful provision. Sadly, for some it has morphed into the beginning of the frenzied shopping season leading up to a most materialistic Christmas. This year with all that is going on in the world that would surely shatter ‘Peace on Earth, Goodwill toward Men,’ take a few steps back and determine to walk through this season with grace and an ever increasing awareness of Jesus Christ and who you are in Him.
Let’s Get Strategic
We still have so much to be thankful for and now is the time to offer our praise and thanksgiving to the God of our fathers. Start today to set aside time alone in prayer for your family and friends especially those who may be joining you for Thanksgiving Day. In the times we are living in it is incumbent on each of us as prayer warriors to strategically pray for our families.
Our enemy would like nothing better than to divide us on every level starting in the home, extending to the church and beyond. Make no mistake that you are here ‘for such a time as this’ to intercede. It is only through targeted and strategic intercession that the spiritual battle is won.
It is not 1950. It is not ‘life as usual.’ We are at war for our freedom, our families and all that we hold dear in this United States of America. Put on the whole armor of God daily and stand therefore. Hold your position and do not give up any ground. Take back ground that has been taken from you.
Set the Tone
Not all of us will sit at the proverbial Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving table. Some are challenged with sickness, death of a loved one, no family or home in which to be included. No matter what has gone before in your life, let this holiday be new and fresh for you. You have His promise that He will make all things new. He will if you choose to let Him.
Your annual Thanksgiving gathering may be a time of stress as unresolved issues are brought to the table. Many just try to ‘get through’ this day. If that includes you, determine to change the tone this year. Every one of us carries some challenge in our heart. It is always a heart issue. Extend your heart to those around you.
As a follower of Jesus you are called to forgive. In forgiving you heal your own heart one heartbeat at a time. Stay clear of hot button issues. This is not the time to try to resolve decades-long perceived grievances. Look for the good in everyone at your table. Remembering the grace that God extends to you, extend grace to each person.
As the Christmas season begins really keep Christ at the forefront in your heart. Guard your heart with a hedge of protection but do not build an impenetrable wall. Your heart has many patterns within it of the past. Some patterns have soft edges. Some are more pointed. Do not get stuck in historical patterns. In this season of thanksgiving let Him soften the pointed edges of your past and give you hope and peace.
Open Your Heart
On this day remember those who are not with loved ones. Pray for our military on foreign soil. Pray for their families missing them at their Thanksgiving table. Pray for the homeless that they would have a warm meal and an extended kindness. Pray for those who are alone and for the elderly who may have no one to share this day with except their memories of loved ones no longer with them.
If you have no one to be with yet you do not want to be alone, share your day with those less fortunate and volunteer. Be the spirit of thanksgiving! It is through giving that you receive.
If you are serving in the Armed Forces and are away from home, may God bless you and keep you safe. May you find an oasis in the warmth of fellowship with other warriors. On this Thanksgiving Day and always, thank you for your service.
Maintain Your Center
Always keep Jesus Christ at the center of your heart (it is always a heart issue). In spite of whatever may be swirling around in your heart from day to day, keep Him at the center! Whatever your circumstance, let Him lead you through every day with His grace and peace.
Know this. If you make Jesus the center of your Thanksgiving Day and every day forward you are never alone. Sometimes you can be with many people and still feel alone. With Jesus, it does not matter if you are in a crowd or unaccompanied, you are never alone. If you have yet to accept Jesus Christ as the Lord of your life, do it now!
If you have grown lukewarm, recommit now! What better time to make a fresh commitment to the King of kings and Lord of lords than in the season of thanksgiving.
There is much to be thankful for no matter what is going on around you. Start with thanking Jesus for giving His life so you can have eternal life. Thank Him that His mercies are new every morning; that He offers you the peace that surpasses all understanding and that He has a plan to give you hope and a future. Start there and add your own reasons to thank Him.
In this season of thanksgiving, I am thankful for each of you who are faithful prayer warriors raised up ‘for such a time as this.’ May God richly bless you on Thanksgiving Day and always.
It Is Never Too Late!
If you have not yet made the decision to accept Jesus into your heart, do it now. Do not wait another minute. Speak to Him from your heart (for it is always a heart issue). Tell Him you have fallen short in your life. Sincerely apologize for your sins. Ask Him to cleanse you and come into your heart and be Lord over your life. From this moment forward let His Spirit guide you along the narrow road that leads to everlasting life.
Quotes to Ponder This Week
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” ~Jesus, Matthew 11:28
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” ~Philippians 4:6-7
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of god, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” ~1Peter 2:9-10
“Behold, I make all things new.” ~Rev 21:5
A Prayer Request
Pray for all throughout the world for hedges of protection against radical Islamic extremists and all forms of terrorism. Pray for Christians who face violence and death for their faith. We have long prayed for spiritual victory over radical Islam in Esther’s Warriors Ministry. We now see the reality of this threat come to the forefront in this time in world history. As Iranians and Islamic extremists are shouting ‘Death to America,’ let us speak life, hope and a return to God in America! Pray for salvation for all who have yet to know Jesus Christ as Lord.
Please pray for all in authority over us. Pray for the full truth to come forth concerning #Benghazi. Pray for Representative Trey Gowdy as he leads the House Select Committee on Benghazi. May God richly bless the United States of America and keep her safe. Bring to light every single crooked place in our government. We continue to pray for truth to prevail. Pray for the families who have lost loved ones, for those relentlessly targeted and for all of us who are proud to call ourselves American.
May we may arise united once again as One Nation Under God in this auspicious season in our country’s history. These are treacherous times and now more than ever we must maintain our walk with the Lord, saturate this country in prayer and stand for all that is right in America. Fail not in this hour.
Pray for peace in Israel. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Pray for American Pastor Saeed Abedini who has been held, tortured and denied medical care in Iran for being a Christian. He was captured in 2012. Let us join our prayers with others across the globe for his release and safe return to his wife and children.
#PrayforAmerica, #AmericaLoveitorLeave it; #GodblessAmerica; #WakeupAmerica
Please Join Me in Prayer
This week I am sharing a prayer from my friend, Samar Aziz in Pakistan. Thank you for sharing God’s heart with us!
Father, we are challenged in Scripture to be filled with the Spirit speaking to ourselves with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. This heavenly language brings Scripture to our hearts and makes us one with You even in the midst of our busy schedule. It is from the abundance of being filled with Your spirit that we overflow with heavenly music and psalm, even in the midst of hard and unfair situations in our lives. May praise and thanksgiving be the resounding theme from our hearts on this day and everyday! In Your name, Jesus, we pray. Amen.