Thanksgiving

November 27, 2015

Devotions:

        Yesterday was Thanksgiving Day in America.  It is the day set aside every year to give thanks to God for His abundant provision.  It is a wonderful tradition that was started with the early settlers of the U.S. after they had made it through the first very hard year in the new land. 

        We all need to cultivate the habit of thankfulness for all the blessings that the Lord has provided.  When Israel went in to the promise land, it is recorded in the book of Joshua that none of the promises of God went unfulfilled.  Israel did not necessarily mix faith with the promises of God and see the fulfillment.  God wants us to partake of all of His abundant blessings that He has purchased for us by the blood of Jesus.  As we give thanks for God's abundant, rich blessings before we see them in our lives we activate our faith to receive what He has provided. 

        In Jesus we have placed ourselves in the place to receive all the blessings of God but we will not enjoy them if we do not receive them.  When we receive them we express it with a thankful heart. 

        “And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.”  ‭Luke‬ ‭17:12-19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

        When the ten lepers asked for mercy they were told to go show themselves to the priest to prove that they were cleansed.  When they acted on Jesus' word they were cleansed and healed.  When one saw that he was cleansed he returned to give thanks and glorify God.  Because of his humbling himself and giving thanks for the healing, he was also made whole.  Leprosy causes parts of the extremities of the body to drop off.  This man received a restoration of his body where the other nine only were healed and cleansed of their leprosy.  Thanksgivnig opens the flood gates of heaven for us to receive.  When believing for something from God spend most of your time in praise and thanksgiving for the answer and you will see the manifestation much quicker.  Take time to give thanks to God daily.       

                “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:18‬ ‭KJV‬‬