LET A HEART OF GRATITUDE BE A PART OF YOUR ROUTINE

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“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His Name.”—Hebrews 13:15
 
There are times, in the busyness of life that we simply do not stop long enough to pause and thank our Creator for the countless blessings He has given to us.  Other “things” take the priority over our expressing gratitude to the One who made us.  But when we do, our spirits revive, our strength is renewed, and our hope is inspired.  Psalm 107:1-2 is an expression of thanksgiving.  Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!  For His mercy endures forever.  Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy.” 
 
We express praise and thanksgiving to the Creator because He is good.  He bestows everything on us, and He deserves our gratitude.  
 God is good because….
He loves you.
He gave you breath.
He redeemed you.
He gives you the capacity to know Him.
He gives you the desire to trust Him.
He does not remember your transgressions.
He takes piety upon your needs.
He considers the poor.
He fulfills every promise.
He is trustworthy.
He is dependable.
He is always present.
He never leaves you.
He forgives us.
He receives us into eternity.
 
Your reasons for expresses your love of praise and thanksgiving to God can be never ending, and I pray that they will never be.  Let praise and thanksgiving become a regular part of your routine.  Allow your spirit to be revived, your strength renewed, and your hope inspired, as you offer up to Him, the fruit of your lips giving praise. 
 
Prayer—Father I thank You for bestowing Your life of goodness and blessing upon my life.  Today I recommitment my time to include thanksgiving and praise to You for what You have done, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

EATING THE BREAD OF THANKSGIVING

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“And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”—Luke 22:19
 
Have you ever thought that when you eat something that it literally becomes a part of you?  Jesus exhorted His disciples, to work for food that would endure to eternal life, “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him”(John 6:27).    Our Heavenly Father has always called humankind to return to Him. He wants us to know Him and to receive all that He has to offer to us.  Reading Isaiah 55:1-2 reveals a divine prompting, “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat.  Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.   Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy?  Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.”
 
Our Scripture reading today reminds us that Jesus is the food offering that we are to partake of.  In fact, He was essentially saying, “I will die in your place and conquer death, for you, and this will bring you real life.  I encourage you today, even in the act of eating natural food—a necessity to sustain your physical body—to remember who is “your daily bread.”  And when you do, give thanks for what He has given to us.  You have been given everything that pertains to Zoë life—the life as God knows it! 
 
Prayer—Heavenly Father, thank You for everything that You have given to me.  Today I chose to delight myself in Your abundance, in Your goodness, and in Your mercy.  Today, Lord, I chose You as my daily bread, in Jesus’ Name.  Amen.