The Spirit of Thankfulness
 
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving.
 
Psalm 95:2a (KJV).
 
Were there no God we would be in this glorious world with grateful hearts and no one to thank.
 
—-Christina Rossetti
 
It is amazing how God speaks to us sometime, especially when we seek his face with a spirit of genuine thanksgiving in our hearts. Whatever you are going through today, wherever you are now in your walk with the Lord, remember the power and strength that can come from a spirit of gratitude, this true heartfelt attitude of thankfulness.
 
In the book, The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom shares with us an experience she had that reminded her of the power and strength that comes through a spirit of thankfulness before God. In the worst of German prisons (Ravenbruck) among concentration camps that they had ever seen, they discovered fleas. The barracks they were inhibited in were not just extremely over-crowded, but was also flea-infested.
 
The first morning they read scripture from 1 Thessalonians that reminded them to “rejoice always, pray constantly and give thanks in all circumstances.” Betsy urged Corrie to pause and give thanks for every portion of their new living quarters—-even for the nasty, biting fleas the Lord allowed them to experience. Corrie, however, was defiant and resistant and flatly said, “No!” But with Betsy’s insistence and urging Corrie gave in to her pleadings and they both fell upon their knees and gave thanks for everything—-even the fleas.
 
As the months passed by they were shocked at the freedom they has to study the word of God and carry on their Bible studies within this concentration camp without any guard interference at all. They later learned that the sole reason the guards would not enter their barracks was because of the fleas.
 
This Thanksgiving Season give thanks in all things. God is in control of your life and every aspect of it. He has a purpose for you being here. He wakes up the sun each day from the east. He puts it to bed in the west each evening. He is sovereign. He knows where you’re sitting right now. He knows your circumstances. He knows even the number of hairs upon your head and the prayers you are going pray before you go to bed. He knows you. He knows everything about everyone. And He has a purpose for you and everything you do. He even has a purpose even for fleas in your life.
 
Down the road ...

Ronnie Johnson