be thankful

There are times I forget  and times I really don't take time to notice, but I am so blessed. God has truly been good to me. I haven't earned it nor do I deserve it, but I am blessed. Does that mean hard times haven't come? No. It does mean that God has been with me through it all. I was looking  through some old pictures and recalled times my son had surgeries,  times of loss, times of rejoicing, my kids being baptized and playing in the snow. As I looked at pictures of loved ones lost and all the fun times, I could think about how God's goodness has carried me through every moment.  My husband and I will be celebrating our twenty fifth anniversary next month. That is twenty five years of learning to trust God, praying for one another, and learning how to love each other the way God loves. It's years of failures and victories. It is the ups and downs, good and bad. It has times when I held him up and times he held me. I am so thankful for a husband that seeks God and turns to God to become an even better man. I am thankful for my two children who are blessings. I am so proud of them and who they are. I rejoice as they are growing and learning how to serve God and others. Have they always been perfect angels? No, of course not. But they are wonderful. I am thankful for my life and health. I am thankful for my job and yes, even my bills. I am thankful for my church and my family. I have so much to be thankful for.

Why am I saying all this?  Because I can so easily focus on what has gone wrong and all the stresses. I can get so caught up in worry over many things, most of which I cannot control. I can fret and worry over finances, health,  my kids, the future, etc. When I do this, my eyes and my heart lose focus on  the goodness of God.  I begin to lose the joy and peace. I begin to feel the fear and depression. I begin to fail and question more. My faith wanes and I begin to complain. It slowly gets ugly. This is exactly what God does not have in mind for us.

He has not given us a spirit of fear. (2 Timothy 1:7)He does not want us to stress and worry. He says we can cast all our cares on Him he cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7)  He is able to give us all we need and provides for us in ways we can never even imagine when we put all our faith and trust in Him. When we are thankful and full of praise, we are able to keep the right attitude and keep our eyes focused on God.

O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.
Psalms 108:1 KJV

We can keep thankfulness as our attitude and change the way we see our circumstances.  When we are grateful, we show appreciation and actually feel more happiness and peace. We more easily recognize our blessings. We see the blessings all around us rather than focusing on the problems.  We can look to Jesus to get us through and know He has already taken care of us by giving us the greatest gift of all: salvation.

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2 KJV

As we approach Thanksgiving,  I hear so many talking about being thankful and counting blessings.  There is joy in the counting of blessings. I love the feeling in the air at Thanksgiving  as people take time to recognize the blessings and appreciate the goodness of God. We need to keep that attitude all year long, not just for a season,  but for a lifetime. Imagine how much worry we could avoid if we just stayed focused on being grateful  rather than finding reasons to complain. I am going to do my best to make thankfulness my heart's first thought rather than worry. I am going to try to stay thankful even after the special day has passed on by. Every day, I want to start with saying thank you to God for the blessings of the day.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV

Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.
Psalms 140:13 KJV

Thank you, Lord, for all Your blessings on me.

peace , not anxiety

We often question ourselves and what we are are supposed to do. We have self-doubt, anxiety and worry. We may not really believe that we are actually chosen and ordained of God to do a work for Him. We may become fearful, lonely, and even depressed. BUT, He has called each of us to share His love and the great news of the Gospel with those around us. We have purpose in Christ and we are loved by our creator. He did not form us for no reason. He has a plan for each of us.

Thus saith the Lord the maker thereof, the Lord that formed it, to establish it; the Lord is his name;
Jeremiah 33:2 KJV

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord , “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

God wants us to realize that He wants the best for us and has set a plan in motion. We need to trust Him and place our faith in Him to the utmost. We should not worry or fear when we are putting every bit of our faith and trust in our loving God.

Anxiety is on the rise in our society. Every day anxiety keeps people from reaching out, trusting, and living the life with which God has blessed them. Anxiety destroys relationships and creates depression and hurt. Anxiety tells you that no one cares, that you aren't good enough, and actually creates hurt when there shouldn't be. Anxiety causes you to find fault and feel hurt from someone who truly had no intention of hurting you. Anxiety is not from God. It separates us from Him.

Anxiety is a spirit that goes against the will of God to keep you from really trusting and believing in the plan God has for you.

 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
II Timothy 1:7 NKJV

We have many good reasons to put aside anxiety. The biggest reason is it is keeping us from a good relationship with our heavenly Father. We cannot truly trust Him nor can He truly fulfill His plans in us when we allow anxiety to keep us from giving Him our heart fully and completely.  We aren't able to give everything to Him when we listen to anxiety's lies.

We need to find ourselves at an altar and repent for not trusting God and ask for His help in defeating anxiety once and for all. Living in anxiety keeps us from the peace and joy that God has for us. We need to live in His peace and experience true Joy rather than what anxiety has created.

Jesus spoke these words about peace and joy:

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27 NKJV

“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
John 15:11 NKJV

We need to understand that anxiety is not God's will for us. His will is peace and joy. He offers us good things and wants to give us good gifts. He does not want us suffering and fearful. He wants better for His children.  He has the best for us, not just getting by,  dwelling on hurt or fear of hurt. That is the goal of the enemy of our soul.  He wants to destroy and keep us from the goodness of God.

We can call on Him and He will answer. He will bring about His mighty will in us if we turn it all over to Him.
We can cast all of our cares at His feet and walk in faith knowing He is taking care of it all for us. He will lead us and make our paths straight.  He will answer our prayers, meet our needs and supply for us in  ways that will amaze us when we call on Him in complete faith and trust.

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
Jeremiah 33:3 KJV

I pray we can put aside the fear, worry, hurt and trouble that anxiety has caused. We need His peace and joy operating in us. That is what will change lives, draw the sinner to the love of Jesus, and make us truly effective in the Kingdom of God. Let's call on Jesus when we hear the painful whispers from anxiety telling us lies of pain, hurt, and fear. Let us find strength in Jesus and the in the Word of God to stand in faith, live in joy and claim peace that only comes from Him.

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1 Peter 5:7 KJV