The Power of Being Thankful: 365 Devotions for Discovering the Strength of Gratitude (16 page)

A person is never truly prosperous if all he has are things and money; real prosperity requires far more than that. The Bible gives a more complete approach to prosperity, and so should we.

When our bodies prosper, we are strong and physically healthy. Even if we currently have a physical ailment we can pray for and expect God to help us. True prosperity includes peace of mind and contentment. When our souls prosper, we flourish on the inside. We are at peace; we are full of joy; we live with a sense of purpose; we are growing spiritually; and we have strong, loving relationships with others.

Jesus said that He came so we could have and enjoy life in abundance and to the full (see John 10:10). God is a god of abundance, and He wants us to live abundant lives filled with thanksgiving and joy.

I thank You, Father, that You prosper my body and my soul. I pray today for the health and the peace that You promise in Your Word. Thank You that I am made whole in You.

I fully believe that reaching your potential is linked to the way you handle adversity. Adversity isn’t always bad. Actually, adversity can be something to be thankful for because God can use it to strengthen you. Winston Churchill said: “Difficulties mastered are opportunities won,” and I wholeheartedly agree.

If you allow difficulties and challenges to frustrate, intimidate, or discourage you, you will never overcome them. But if you face them head-on and press through the adversities you encounter, refusing to give up in the midst of them and moving forward with a heart of gratitude, you will develop the skills and determination needed to be everything you were created to be and experience everything God intends for you.

I thank You, Father, that I don’t have to give up when I face adversity—I can meet it head-on, knowing that You are always with me. Thank You for the promise that greater is He who is in me, than he who is in the world.

God has always said to His people and is still saying to us: “You and I are partners. You are My body in the earth today.” We are the representation of Who God is. We are His mouth, His hands, His feet, His face. We are the ones who express His heart, demonstrate His love, and reveal His power to those around us. What an awesome privilege to be thankful for!

In humility, we should be moved to pray each day, “Father, thank You that I have the chance to be Your representative to the world today. Thank You for using me.” We would be wise to also pray to access the wisdom and the resources of heaven for ourselves and for others. By the grace of God, we can partner with Him so that His purposes will come to pass in our lives and in the lives of those around us.

I thank You, Father, that You pour out Your treasure into earthen vessels. Thank You that You are using me to demonstrate Your love, kindness, power, and grace to the world around me. Help me to be Your ambassador to the world today.

We can be thankful that we don’t have to worry about things, figure out everything, or carry heavy burdens in our lives. It is actually quite refreshing—and something to be grateful for—to realize that I don’t need to have all the answers to my problems. We need to get comfortable with saying, “I don’t know the answer to this dilemma, and I’m not going to worry about anything because God is in control and I trust Him. I’m going to rest in Him!”

When we’re overloaded with the cares of life—struggling, laboring, and worrying—we need a mental and emotional vacation. Our minds need to rest from thinking about how to take care of problems, and our emotions need to rest from being upset. Worry isn’t restful at all. In fact, it steals rest and the benefits of rest from us. So next time you feel you are carrying a heavy load in your mind or you find yourself worried and anxious, remember, you can put your trust in God and enjoy His rest.

Father, I am grateful that You give me rest. Thank You that I don’t have to have all the answers all the time—I can trust in You and live a life of peace, contentment, and rest.

When we think about how little time most people actually give God, we can understand why the Bible so strongly encourages us to seek Him. The fact is, we are missing the greatest thing in life if we never really get to know God personally.

The apostle Paul said that his determined purpose was to know God and the power that flowed out from His resurrection (see Philippians 3:10). The word
seek
is a very strong word. In its original language, it means “to crave; to pursue; to go after with all your might.”

We can be thankful that our God is a wonderful God worth seeking. He is worth loving! He is worthy of all your passion and devotion. So don’t wait until you find yourself in a desperate situation. Determine to seek and love God with all your heart from this moment on.

I thank You, Father, that I can seek You with all my heart and live in close relationship with You. Like Paul, I want to make it my determined purpose to know You. I thank You that You love me and that You reward me with Your presence when I seek after You.