Devotional 16 - Thankfulness

            This week starts the Lenten season. During the Lent service this week, I felt the Lord tell me to be thankful when I am in pain. Who would of guess since then my pain has increase doubly? I guess God knew. Sometimes I still can’t accept my chronic lyme’s disease or that it is a slow healing process. But these next 40 days I want to thank God for every moment I feel the struggle coming on, every time I am frustrated that I cannot play with my 2 year old. I also need to thank Him even though my daughter still hasn’t been gaining weight like the doctors want. I need to thank Him for the unanswered prayers. I need to thank him for the prayers he has answers, but sometimes forget to see because of our current struggle. Thanking God is a choice! It is super easy to thank him when we see the answer or feel the healing. But when we don’t see it or feel it, we are not quick to thank Him for what He has already done in our lives.

            I challenge you today. Thank God no matter what happens. I am sure Paul and many disciples did not want to thank God when they were being beaten or in jail, but they did keep sing His praises. Take a moment today and memorize these verses 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

            Remember thanking God will not get the immediate healing or answered prayer. Thanking God is about getting closer to God through these rough circumstances.  Today I choose to be thankful! Thankful for my pain. Thankful for unanswered prayers. Thankful for daily struggles. I choose to be thankful because through the pain it is all for God’s glory.