The Power of Being Thankful: 365 Devotions for Discovering the Strength of Gratitude (36 page)

Love is patient. It is not in a hurry. It always takes time to wait on God, to be grateful for His goodness, and to fellowship with Him. A person whose life is marked by love is patient with people. For example, he takes the time to listen to the elderly person who is lonely and wants to talk. He is willing to listen to the same story four or five times just to show kindness.

The patient person is long-suffering. He can put up with something uncomfortable for a long period of time without complaining. He has the power to endure whatever comes with a good attitude. Patience is a wonderful virtue, but it is a virtue than can only be developed under trial. In other words, we need something to be patient about in order to develop patience, so let’s start thanking God each time we need to exercise patience instead of complaining about it.

Father, as I go through my day today, help me to be patient with those around me. Thank You that You give me the strength and ability to demonstrate godly character. Today, with Your help, I choose to be kind and patient every chance I get.

There is a popular song titled “Because He Lives,” and it is about the fact that Jesus’ death and resurrection give us the power and privilege to live life today in victory. Because He lives, we can face whatever comes our way, knowing that God will never allow us to go through more than we can bear, and that He always provides a way out.

Because Jesus lives, we can also have a new attitude toward ourselves. We can stop expecting ourselves to be perfect and learn to enjoy ourselves even in the midst of making mistakes. Jesus died for our mistakes and is alive today to help us grow in Him and be changed by His Word and Holy Spirit. Be grateful for the sacrifice of Jesus, and get a new attitude about yourself! Stop thinking that your failures and mistakes are too much for God. He has cast all of your sins behind His back (see Isaiah 38:17). He isn’t looking at them, so you don’t need to look at them either!

I thank You, Father, that Jesus is alive and that the same Spirit who raised Him from the dead dwells in me. Help me face every challenge in life boldly, put my guilt and sin behind me, and embrace Your mercy and forgiveness.

If we remember the miracles God has done in the past with awe and a thankful heart, we will not so easily fall into worry and fear when we have new challenges to face. When David was facing Goliath, he remembered the lion and the bear he had already slain with God’s help. Because he remembered what God had done, he had no fear of his situation with Goliath.

Are you facing something right now that looks like a giant in your life? If so, remember God’s goodness, be thankful for what He has done before, and choose to believe He can do it again. Write down three things that God has done for you in the past and focus on them instead of your problem. Nothing is impossible for God. Take some time to think about and talk about God’s miraculous work. Then you will find courage filling your heart.

With all my heart, I thank You, Father, for the wonders You have done in the past. And today, I stand in faith, believing that You will work mightily in my life once again. Thank You for being the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Our faith increases when we understand that God remembers us. We can be grateful that we are never forgotten. He keeps one eye on us all the time. It doesn’t matter if others have forgotten us or abandoned us; what really matters is that God never will. He remembers all of our prayers. He keeps our tears in a bottle, and does not forget the cry of the humble, poor, and afflicted (see Psalm 56:8; 9:12).

We may never understand why some difficult things happen the way they do, but no matter what happens, God is still God and He has not forgotten you. He has your picture tattooed on the palm of His hand!

When I realize, Father, that You will never forget me, my heart is filled with gratitude. I’m thankful that I’m always on Your mind and that You have a wonderful plan for my life.

As believers in Jesus Christ, God has given us a new nature, but at the same time, we also have to deal with the old nature. When we allow the old nature to rule, we follow feelings, when in reality, we should operate in self-control. Self-control is a fruit of our new nature and, thankfully, it is something that can be developed. Much like we build muscles by using them, we can develop self-control by using it.

Freedom in Christ is a gift to be thankful for, and exercising self-control is a form of freedom, not a type of bondage. You don’t have to do what you feel like doing. You’re free to do what you know is wise. Discipline and self-control will help you be what you say you want to be but never could be without the help of God’s guidance and grace.

Father, I am so thankful that I don’t have to be ruled by emotions or impulses. Thank You that, with Your help, I can live a self-controlled, overcoming life in Christ.