Focus

Pay attention to the tension in your body. Let go of it and any expectations to do anything other than God’s will today. Prepare yourself to hear God’s word.

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Read

Psalm 118:1-2 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his steadfast love endures forever!

Let Israel say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”

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Reflect

During difficult times, it may be very difficult for us to be thankful to God. We want God to do something, intervene, and/or make everything all right. God never made the promise that God was a computer that we put in requests and are granted them. We cannot program God so that everything is the way we want it. That God would be way too small.

We are thankful that God gives us strength to go through the difficult times of our lives. No one has been promised a smooth road all the way through life. We are going to hit roadblocks, sometimes we go in the wrong direction, and there are detours along the way. God has promised to be with us through all these times. God loves us and desires the best for us. However, we live in a broken world. Despite the brokenness of the world God does hear us and feels our pain. We are to be thankful that God is right here right now.

I love to study Christian history. During the history of the church there have been periods of unrest, wars, and epidemics. Yet, we can be thankful that the church has endured through all these difficult times. People were thankful for the care that Christians provided during the plague of Cyprian (an early bishop). The church grew tremendously.

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Pray

God, open our awareness to the evidence of your presence in our lives. Please give us thankful hearts despite what is going on around us. We know that our lives are brief, so help us greet each morning with gratitude for the love and strength you provide. Amen.

Go with God!