Tuesday, November 5, 2013

THANKSGIVING -- AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE



“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” Psa: 118:24. “Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say rejoice” Phil. 4:4.

As I sit down at my computer this morning, I am going to bare my heart as God directs, trusting that He will bless your heart as He has mine during these past three weeks while I have been on a spiritual roller coaster.

Too many times we hide our feelings, our emotions, and our thoughts because we are afraid that people will judge our spiritual tenor if they find out. If we first go to others instead of the Lord, we have gone to the wrong source. God’s Word assures us that He has the answer. My many years of walking with Him assure me of that also. We must evaluate our motives. Is it pride that keeps us from baring our heart, or are we taking our need to our heavenly Father because we know that there is no one who knows just how we feel? Because we are convinced that God has the answers? That God will help us through?

The last three weeks have been different from any that I have ever experienced. My husband has been in the ER three times and has had surgery for an abdominal aortic aneurysm. I stayed with him in the hospital for five nights. My weariness affected my emotions. I knew that my Father was where He always is -- on His Throne, caring for me, aware of my need, and that He would restore me in His own perfect time and way. Each morning I told Him that I was claiming His promise, “As thy day so shall they strength be.” There is a verse on our kitchen door that confronts me every time I go to our garage -- “Be still and know that I am God” Psa. 46:10. That was all I could do and that was all that I needed to do. “Delight thyself in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desire of thine heart” Psa. 37:4 My desire, my desperate need,was joyful peace. In the meantime, I clung to fact, not to feeling. I knew He would restore me in His own perfect time. And He did! Oh, how great is our God! He will restore our soul.  

Why am I telling this to you? Reason: perhaps you need to be restored, encouraged, assured. The nights are dark and long. Your days and night flow into one long muddle. Your bones ache from weariness. Your heart is downcast. You are discouraged and in despair. Don’t allow yourself to stay there. Read the Word whether you understand it or not. Pray to your heavenly Father even if   you feel like it or not. Even if you think He is not listening. He has not left His Throne. He has not forgotten you. He is ready and waiting to work His perfect work in you. Believe His promise that He will never leave you or forsake you. He will restore you to gladness and rejoicing in His own perfect time and way. You will have a new song to sing and a strong testimony of victory that only He can give. Other troubled ones need to hear you.

PRAISE HIM FOR HIS CARING, MIGHTY POWER. HE IS ON HIS THRONE.

P.S. My dear husband is growing stronger each day. Praise the Lord.