As we look toward this Thanksgiving weekend I’m thinking of the opening verse of Psalm 118, “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever.” Gratitude has much to do with how we view things doesn’t it? We tend to either see a glass as half empty or half full. It depends on our way of measuring. When our attitude is intentionally grateful, we see the good in various situations. Instead of listing all that we do not have, we choose to give thanks to God for what we do have. I have found that gratitude cannot be pretending. Gratitude does not survive well if we try to pretend that disappointments did not matter or that everything is just as we wanted it to be. Gratitude rises up in us when we do recognize that God is good and that His love is enduring. This means that when we do face heartaches and are not sure if or when our troubles will be resolved that we still know that the LORD is good and we hold on to His love for us. Giving thanks is a decision that we make that does not depend on everything being ideal. When you think about it, gratitude that is sincere even when life has not unfolded exactly as we hoped is authentic. If we thought we could only thank God when He arranged things exactly as we wanted, then our occasions for gratitude would be rare. As it is, we can be thanking God that He is good and that His love endures forever no matter what is happening in our lives. Our assurance that God’s love for us does endure forever will give us reason to thank Him in all circumstances. Please plan to pause tomorrow, October 6th for a time of giving thanks to God in prayer at our WEDNESDAY PRAYER TOGETHER at 1 pm.
Thanking God that His love does endure forever and that we can respond to Him with our gratitude and love, Pastor Lola
Our God we come to this time of prayer and turn to You with thanks because You are good and Your love does endure forever. Thank You God that each of us has received evidence in our lives that You are good. Out of Your love for us, You sent Your Son Jesus to give Himself to restore our relationship with You. We give thanks to You LORD because You are good and Your love endures forever. We have seen You supply our needs and we have thanked You and known that You are good and that Your love endures forever. You have given us precious gifts of family and friends and we have thanked You and known that You are good and that Your love endures forever. Our loving God, You have offered us the gift of forgiveness and we thank You as we declare that You are good and that Your love endures forever. We have this opportunity to come to You in prayer whatever is happening in our lives and in our world. Our response in prayer is to say thank You and that You LORD are good and Your love endures forever. You God make a way when there seems to be no way and we are reminded that You are good and that Your love endures forever. God You continue to guide us through the challenges and complications of this pandemic and we respond with thanks recognizing that You are good and that Your love endures forever. When we have prayed for some time over an anxious concern that has not yet been answered, still we can affirm LORD that You are good and that Your love endures forever. When we have lost sight of You and our faith in You has wavered, LORD we give thanks that You have remained good and that Your love for us endures forever. We bring to You both the joys and struggles of our lives and in both of these we thank You for the steadfast truth that You are good and that Your love endures forever. God our ongoing prayer in all the circumstances of our lives is for our love to be more and more like Yours. We pray that our love for You, for others, and for ourselves will endure forever. Thank You God for the promise of each new day and knowing that each day will signal the truth that You are good and that Your love endures forever. Your supply of love for us never runs out our LORD. We want to be in the habit of recognizing Your enduring love and thanking You for Your enduring love every day. Thank You that Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate Your love that endures forever and to respond with gratitude because You are the Giver of every good gift. When life is hard, Your love for us remains strong and stable. From the beginning, to the close of the day, we want to say that You LORD are good and that Your love endures forever. We love You and we thank You. In Jesus’ Name. AMEN.