21 Day Devotional: Day 8: Be thankful.

There is always something to be thankful for.  Always.

It may sound cliché because there will be days you struggle to find the silver lining.  There will be days when nothing goes right, the struggle is real, doubt and fear and worry try to grip your mind, and God seems far away.  This is normal.  Do not think that because you have a life now committed to serving God that everything is going to be easy all the time. 

Life is demanding.  Life is hard.  It was even hard for Jesus.  The Bible tells us there were times that Jesus needed to be away from everyone, including His most trusted twelve disciples.  There were times He sent them away so He could be alone and pray.  Jesus was God, all powerful and almighty, yet He lived as we do, as a man.  He was tempted.  He was hungry.  He was angry.  He was upset.  He suffered loss.  He was tired.  He was rejected.  He was talked about.  He was despised.  He was put down.  He was mocked.  He was spit on.  He was beaten.  He was crucified.

Do not think that you are alone, or wrong, for struggling with life.  Difficulties come to us all.  We all have problems.  We all have fears, heartaches, pain, hurts, sickness, death, trials, and days that nothing goes right… life happens to all of us.

But, there is ALWAYS something to be thankful for.  No matter what you face, having an attitude of thankfulness is important.  It is important that when you pray and talk to God, that you keep a thankful heart, in spite of your problems.  And, if you can’t think of anything else to be thankful for, remember that Jesus died on the cross for you, and your sins are forgiven.  You are a forgiven, loved, child of the most High God.

 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6).

“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.  Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.” (Psalm 100:4).

“…Saying, Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 7:12)

Read John Chapter 8.