Thanksgiving 2021 Challenge

  

 

“You turned my mourning into dancing…O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.” Psalm 30: 11-12 NKJV

 

They sat in their tents complaining, grumbling, feeling hopeless. You would assume that these were people who knew nothing about God. That assumption would be understandable; it would also be wrong.

 

These grumbling people hiding in their tents had seen the Lord open the Red Sea and had walked across on dry land. Afterwards, their hearts had overflowed with praise and thanksgiving. They trusted this amazing God wholeheartedly. Surely, this deep heartfelt thankfulness would last forever. But, in time, thankfulness began to fade. A problem arose. They panicked. They doubted God’s goodness. Their thankful hearts turned into grumbling hearts. 

 

How could anyone who had seen the Red Sea open up ever doubt God’s goodness and His power?  How could they ever grumble? How could they ever stop giving thanks? It is hard to understand. Yet, I do understand. I am like the Israelites. In my life, God has answered many prayers. He has brought me through difficult circumstances. I have thanked Him profusely. Like the psalmist in Psalm 30, I was certain that I would thank Him forever. But time passed. My thankfulness grew dim. A new trial arrived, and my thankful heart turned into a heart of unbelief and grumbling.

 

When life is good, thankfulness comes easily. When a prayer has been answered, we readily praise and thank our God. But life also includes difficult times. God is worthy of our thanks in all circumstances. “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” I Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV

 

How do we cultivate a thankful heart in all seasons of life? As the holiday of Thanksgiving approaches, let’s turn our attention to thankfulness. Let’s begin by asking God to give us a thankful heart. Then, let’s challenge ourselves to thank God each day during the month of November. The challenge that I am making to myself and to my readers is to keep a Gratitude List during the month of November. Find a notebook. Write the words “Lord, I thank You for….” Write down one thing. Add to the list every day. On some days you may write 2 or 3 or even more items of gratitude. On some days it may be only one. But commit to adding at least one item to the list each day.

 

As we sit down to celebrate Thanksgiving this year, may we do so with hearts overflowing with  thankfulness to our God.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Close Behind

           

                                                    

 

“My soul follows close behind You.”  Psalm 63:8a NKJV

 

The mama duck and the papa duck were in front.  Close behind them swam 7 or 8 tiny little baby ducks. They appeared to be roughly the size of toy rubber duckies. The scene exceeded cuteness! The ducklings’ little legs were paddling extra hard to keep up with the mother and father. I watched the family until they swam out of sight.

 

My heart went out to the little ducklings.  Why were the mother and father swimming so quickly? Perhaps the older ducks knew innately that the babies needed to develop their leg muscles.  And the only way for that to happen was to push them to the limit.

 

The baby ducklings innately knew that danger awaited them if they were separated from their parents. The parent ducks would protect them if a predator came along. They would make sure the little ones did not get lost. They would provide them with food when they were hungry and a place to rest when they were tired. The parent ducks had taken good care of them since the day they were born.  Surely, they would take good care of them today. So, even though the pace was swift and the current was against them, the baby ducklings paddled with all their might. They followed close behind the mama and papa ducks. 

 

In Psalm 63, the psalmist is speaking of the Lord when he says: “My soul follows close behind You.” The Lord leads, and His children follow. He sets the agenda. The smart thing to do, the only thing to do, is to follow close behind Him. 

 

The Lord will protect me from danger.  He will guide me so that I don’t get lost. When I am hungry He will give me food. When I am tired, He will give me rest.  He has always taken care of me, and He will do so today.

 

Lord, as a new day begins, may my soul follow close behind You every step of the way.