Devotion 16
A Thankful Heart
"When gratitude dies on the altar of a man's/woman's heart, thatman/woman is well nigh hopeless." I don't know how many times I heard Dr. Bob Jones Sr. say that during my years at BJU, but the meaning penetrated my heart, and it has influenced my spirit ever since.
Notice where he put the center of gratitude: on an altar — a sweet smelling savor to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The location of that altar is the heart because "… as he/she (a man/woman) thinketh in his/her heart, so is he/she." (Proverbs 23:7) The bottom line is that gratitude is not a and each of us will write something that we appreciate about each one of those family members on the pages. When all of them have been completed, I will receive mine; Jim, his, etc.
Yikes! There will be eleven of us; are there that many things to say about us! I know I could write a list about every one this wonderful family the Lord literally gave me when I married Jim. What a wonderful opportunity for me to put some of the things I love and appreciate most about them in black and white.
And, of course, there is our praise to God. Two lines from the hymn "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" express one of my favorite praises:
"Thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not.Great is thy faithfulness, Lord onto me." *
* "Great Is Thy Faithfulness, words by T.O. Chisholm, music by William M. Runyan. ©1951 (renewal); Hope Publishing C. owner
For Further Consideration:
Psalm 100
Psalm 103:1-5
Psalm 113
Psalm 116
Colossians 3:17, 21
Philippians 4:4-8
1. You might want to try this new way of expressing thanks with your family sometime during this season.
2. You might start a daily praise thought that you put at the top of you "To Do" list or into a Praise Pad that you stick in your pocket or purse. You can be thankful for something as simple as a smile from a friend or the opportunity to help someone else. It could be a Bible verse that means something special to you or something God has taught you. The longer you do it, the more you'll discover things to include.
[ Home Page ][Bible Study]
