THANKFUL THURSDAY MORNING PRAYER!
“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” — Psalm 107:1 (KJV)
Heavenly Father, in the mighty and precious name of Jesus, we come before You this Thursday morning with grateful hearts.
Before we ask You for anything, we simply want to say THANK YOU!
Thank You for waking us up this morning. Thank You for another day of life. Thank You for breath in our bodies, strength to rise, and another opportunity to experience Your grace and mercy.
Your Word declares:
“This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” — Psalm 118:24 (KJV)
Lord, everything may not be the way we want it to be, but You are still good.
Some of us woke up carrying burdens nobody knows about. Some are worried about their families. Some are concerned about their health. Some are struggling financially. Some are grieving the loss of someone they love. Some are dealing with problems in their marriages and relationships. Some are concerned about their children. Some are waiting on employment or a better opportunity. Some are fighting battles in their minds. And some are simply tired from everything life has brought their way.
But this morning, we choose gratitude over complaining, faith over fear, and worship over worry.
Your Word tells us:
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV)
Father, thank You for the prayers You have answered, and thank You for the prayers where the answer is still on the way.
Thank You for the doors You opened, and thank You for the doors You closed because You knew what was on the other side.
Thank You for what You allowed, and thank You for what You prevented.
Thank You for protecting us from dangers seen and unseen.
Thank You for the times we didn't know how we were going to make it—but somehow You made a way!
Lord, somebody needs healing this morning. Touch bodies from the crowns of their heads to the soles of their feet. Strengthen those who are weak. Comfort those experiencing pain. Bring peace to troubled minds and encouragement to discouraged hearts.
For Your Word declares:
“For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD.” — Jeremiah 30:17 (KJV)
Father, remember those who are grieving. When the house feels different, when memories bring tears, and when loneliness becomes overwhelming, wrap Your loving arms around them.
Remind them:
“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” — Matthew 5:4 (KJV)
Lord, bless our families. Restore broken relationships. Bring parents and children together. Strengthen marriages. Heal misunderstandings between siblings. Remove bitterness, unforgiveness, jealousy, division, and confusion.
Teach us to love one another, forgive one another, pray for one another, and appreciate one another while we still have the opportunity.
Father, somebody is worried about finances. Bills are due. Prices are high. Resources may be limited. Someone needs employment, a promotion, increased income, or simply enough to make it through.
But we stand upon Your Word:
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:19 (KJV)
Provide, Lord. Open doors. Give wisdom concerning finances. Create opportunities that no person can shut.
Father, we pray for those struggling silently with anxiety, fear, depression, loneliness, disappointment, and discouragement.
Your Word says:
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)
So this morning, we give You what we cannot carry.
We give You our children.
We give You our marriages.
We give You our health.
We give You our finances.
We give You our careers.
We give You our unanswered questions.
We give You our fears about tomorrow.
Lord, we put it all in Your hands!
Father, draw those who do not know Jesus into a saving relationship with You. Let hearts be softened, lives transformed, and souls saved. Restore those who have walked away and remind them that there is still room at Your table.
And Lord, as we go through this Thursday, order our steps.
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” — Psalm 37:23 (KJV)
Go before us into every workplace, classroom, hospital room, doctor's office, courtroom, meeting, highway, and home.
Protect those traveling.
Give wisdom to those making difficult decisions.
Give strength to caregivers.
Give peace to families facing uncertainty.
Give hope to those waiting for an answer.
Give courage to those beginning again.
And give endurance to those who are simply trying to make it through another day.
Most of all, Lord, keep us thankful.
When we are tempted to focus on what we don't have, remind us of what You have already provided.
When we become discouraged by how far we still have to go, remind us how far You have already brought us.
When life becomes difficult, remind us that we are never walking alone.
“For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” — Hebrews 13:5 (KJV)
So today we declare:
THANK YOU, LORD, FOR LIFE!
THANK YOU FOR GRACE!
THANK YOU FOR MERCY!
THANK YOU FOR PROTECTION!
THANK YOU FOR PROVISION!
THANK YOU FOR OUR FAMILIES!
THANK YOU FOR EVERY BLESSING—SEEN AND UNSEEN!
And even for the things we don't understand, we will still trust You.
Let this Thankful Thursday be filled with peace in our minds, joy in our hearts, strength in our bodies, love in our homes, provision for our needs, and the presence of God everywhere we go.
We give You all the glory, all the honor, and all the praise.
In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray.
AMEN AND AMEN!
THURSDAY DECLARATION...
Today, I choose gratitude over worry. I will thank God in every circumstance. I believe He is working even when I cannot see it. My family is covered, my steps are ordered, my needs will be supplied, and God will give me strength for whatever this day brings. This is the day the Lord has made, and I will rejoice and be glad in it! In Jesus' name, Amen!

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.””
‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭33‬ ‭ESV‬‬

So thankful to know my peace is within Jesus. For so long I served the world partying, seeking escapes and freedom from the tribulations in my life. But I learned that God, and God only can give me true peace. because he came, he gave and he overcame the things of this world. if it wasn’t for him sacrificing himself, for a lowly sinner like me, I would have never known what real joy is. Glad to know I was on his mind when he was on the cross. He iss so so good

Daily devotion for August 26th
Giving Cheerfully
From the fields around the towns they were to bring into the storerooms the portions required by the Law for the priests and the Levites, for Judah was pleased with the ministering priests and Levites.

Nehemiah 12:44b
Those offerings and contributions were given with pleasure. The Scriptures carefully inform us that offerings mean nothing if they are not given cheerfully. If you are not giving with pleasure, God does not want your gift. He does not care how big or small it is. If all you are after is to make an impression on others by the size of your gift, God is not interested in that. Jesus told of a widow who put two tiny pieces of money into the treasury, saying that she had given more than all that the rich people had cast in that day. God would pick up that insignificant amount and use it more mightily than He would the larger gifts of the wealthy. What God looks for always is a note of pleasure, of delight, of cheerfully returning funds to him out of a thankful heart.

Dr. H. A. Ironside used to tell the story of an old Scotsman who inadvertently dropped a gold sovereign in the collection bag at a church service. In Scotland, when the ushers take up the offering, they use a long pole with a bag on the end of it, which they pass among the pews. This old Scotsman put in a gold sovereign by mistake when he meant to put in only a shilling. As soon as he realized his mistake, he tried to retrieve his sovereign. But the usher pulled the bag back and said, Nah, once in, always in! The old man said, Ah well, I'll get credit for it in glory. The usher replied, Nah, you'll get credit for the shilling! That is all the old man intended to give. So we are to give as God has given, freely and gladly.

The closing sentence of this paragraph says, They also set aside the portion for the other Levites. They were careful to take care of others who were not able to be there or who were busy performing and therefore did not have opportunity to share in the offerings. This is a beautiful picture of the oneness of the nation of Israel. God was constantly seeking to teach these people that they belonged to each other. They were not individualists, doing their own thing, but they were workers together with God. I do not know any truth that is more important in the body of Christ than to recognize that God uses people different from us. We must recognize that our way of serving God is not the only way but that we belong to and need one another.

Father, thank You that out of the abundance of what You have given to me, I can give to others, knowing that You will continue to provide for my needs.

Choose Gratitude (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

What are you thankful for today?

Sometimes that question is difficult.

Not because we have nothing to be grateful for, but because problems can become louder than our blessings.

We notice what we don't have.

The opportunity we missed.

The prayer that hasn't been answered.

The relationship that ended.

The financial pressure.

The disappointment.

The plans that didn't work out.

And slowly, we can forget everything God has already done.

The Bible says:

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Notice that Scripture doesn't say:

“Give thanks only when everything is going well.”

It says:

“In all circumstances.”

That doesn't mean we should pretend that pain isn't painful.

It doesn't mean we have to be happy about suffering.

It means that even in difficult circumstances, we can still find reasons to trust and thank God.

You can be disappointed and grateful.

You can be waiting and grateful.

You can be hurting and still recognize God's goodness.

Gratitude doesn't deny the storm.

It reminds you that God is with you in the storm.

Think about what you already have.

You woke up today.

You have another opportunity to live, learn, grow, and serve.

You have experienced moments of God's protection that you may not even know about.

You have people who care about you.

You have lessons from yesterday.

You have God's promises for today.

And if you belong to Christ, you have something greater than temporary circumstances:

You have salvation.

Jesus gave His life so that we could be reconciled to God.

That gift cannot be measured by money, possessions, success, or circumstances.

When everything else changes, the grace of God remains.

So don't allow your circumstances to determine whether God is good.

God is good even when life is difficult.

Sometimes we become so focused on the next blessing that we fail to appreciate the current one.

We're waiting for the next job.

The next relationship.

The next promotion.

The next opportunity.

The next breakthrough.

And we forget to thank God for what is already in our hands.

Don't let tomorrow steal today's gratitude.

Take a moment today and look around.

What has God already given you?

What prayers has He already answered?

What doors has He already opened?

What difficulties has He already brought you through?

What lessons has He taught you?

What people has He placed in your life?

Write them down.

You may be surprised by how much you have to thank Him for.

And gratitude changes the way we see other people too.

Instead of comparing ourselves with someone who has more, we begin appreciating what we have.

Instead of becoming jealous of another person's success, we can celebrate with them.

Instead of constantly asking, “Why don't I have what they have?”

we can say:

“Thank You, God, for what You have entrusted to me.”

Gratitude doesn't mean we stop pursuing growth.

You can be grateful for where you are while still working toward where God is leading you.

You can desire improvement without despising your current season.

You can have dreams without allowing those dreams to control your happiness.

And most importantly, gratitude should lead us back to God.

Don't just be thankful for the blessing.

Be thankful to the One who blesses.

Today, before you ask God for something new, spend some time thanking Him for what He has already done.

Thank Him for life.

Thank Him for grace.

Thank Him for forgiveness.

Thank Him for family and friends.

Thank Him for opportunities.

Thank Him for lessons.

Thank Him for protection.

Thank Him for Jesus.

Even if today is difficult, find one thing to thank God for.

Then find another.

And another.

Gratitude doesn't change everything around you, but it can change what you see within you.

Don't wait until everything is perfect before you thank God.

Thank Him today.

What are three things you can genuinely thank God for right now?

#ChooseGratitude #1Thessalonians518 #ThankfulHeart #Gratitude #GodIsGood #FaithInAction #ChristianYouth #TrustGod #JesusSaves #ShareJesus #DailyFaith #Lordsbook #JMSM #KNKA

Creating a Heart of Gratitude

One of the most powerful emotions is gratitude. If we can find ways to be thankful and grateful throughout our life, we will find the power and emotional strength to walk through some of life’s hardest seasons.

It's not always easy to find ways to be thankful and grateful. But, one of the things Scripture teaches us throughout the Psalms is that there is always something to be grateful for.

The Psalms teach us various songs and poems for every season of our life. But more than that, they also teach us how to cultivate a heart of gratitude and worship towards God.

We belong to a God who loves us and cares deeply for us. God’s love and goodness will never end. Psalm 100:5 praises God for these things:

"For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."

Through Psalms like this, we can begin to build a habit of gratitude towards God and all that He has done. We can thank God for what He has done in our lives, what He is currently doing, and what He will do in the future as we follow after Him.

Because God is always good, loving, and faithful, there is always something we can be grateful for—even in the midst of difficult seasons of life.

Take a few moments today to strengthen the habit of gratitude in your life.

- First, begin by thanking God for who He is: that He is good, faithful, and loving towards you.
- Next, thank God for all that He has done. Thank Him for the good things in your life, and that He has walked with you through the hard times.
- Lastly, thank God for all He will continue to do in the days and years to come. He is trustworthy!

Daily devotion for August 25th
How To Celebrate
At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres.

Nehemiah 12:27
It is proper to dedicate. And it is proper also to celebrate when God has brought us to a place of achievement. The Holy Spirit has been careful to include in this account the three aspects that make up true celebration. One of the primary elements of true celebration is the expression of joy. It is amazing to me how many Christians never appear to be joyful. They are always gloomy and grim. I am reminded of what a little girl said upon seeing a mule for the first time: I don't know what you are, but you must be a Christian because you look just like Grandpa! There are a lot of long-faced Christians around. There are times of sorrow and sadness, of course, but Christians ought frequently to exude a sense of joy because they have something to be joyful about. Joy is not the same as happiness. Happiness is liking the present moment because it pleases us. But joy is much deeper and more long-range. Joy appreciates the past, the present, and the future, not because the circumstances are pleasing, but because the heart is right with God. These people were happy because the wall was finished. But they were joyful because God had helped them to finish it. Aware of God's love and acceptance, they therefore were joyful.

There is another clue hidden in this paragraph that tells us what celebration should be based on. Verse 30 tells us that purification is necessary to celebrate. You cannot do it with a hypocritical heart. It becomes a festival of empty words. Many people seem to be afraid of this word purity. They think it describes a self-righteous kind of person. But purification in the Christian life stems from the same philosophy that motivates us when we wash dishes. You do not set your table with dirty dishes, do you? God does not do His work with dirty vessels! We need a periodic cleansing of our lives and hearts. In the New Testament, it is a simple process. It is not by ritual but by confessing our faults and believing that God has forgiven them. Confess your sins. Then believe that God cleanses you, that He forgives you, that He has restored you to His favor. This is what fills the heart with joy.

There is still a third element in this that is found in verse 31. Thankfulness is always part of true celebration. These people were thankful. Are we properly thankful? Do we give thanks every day to God for the blessings we are enjoying at the moment? We are so trained by the media to grumble and complain, to insist on something we do not have, to focus on that instead of on all we do have. One of the first signs of a growing, maturing spirit in young Christians is that they begin to give thanks to God for what He has poured into their life; for the opportunities that are before them; and for the present blessings and liberties that they do enjoy. So there are the elements that make up celebration: joyfulness, purity, and thanksgiving.

Lord, forgive me for so often forgetting all that I have to celebrate. Teach me to celebrate all You have done for me with joy, purity, and thanksgiving.

*Creating a Heart of Gratitude*

One of the most powerful emotions is gratitude. If we can find ways to be thankful and grateful throughout our life, we will find the power and emotional strength to walk through some of life’s hardest seasons.

It's not always easy to find ways to be thankful and grateful. But, one of the things Scripture teaches us throughout the Psalms is that there is always something to be grateful for.

The Psalms teach us various songs and poems for every season of our life. But more than that, they also teach us how to cultivate a heart of gratitude and worship towards God.

We belong to a God who loves us and cares deeply for us. God’s love and goodness will never end. *Psalm 100:5* praises God for these things:
*"For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations."*

Through Psalms like this, we can begin to build a habit of gratitude towards God and all that He has done. We can thank God for what He has done in our lives, what He is currently doing, and what He will do in the future as we follow after Him.

Because God is always good, loving, and faithful, there is always something we can be grateful for—even in the midst of difficult seasons of life.

Let's take a few moments daily to strengthen the habit of gratitude in our life.

- First, we begin by thanking God for who He is: that He is good, faithful, and loving towards us.
- Next, we thank God for all that He has done. Thanking Him for the good things in our life, and that He has walked with us through the hard times.
- Lastly, thankful to God for all He will continue to do in the days and years to come. He is trustworthy!

*Thank God For His GoodNess*
Father God, nothing is impossible for You. You love us even when we are unloveable. You are good to us even when we don’t deserve it. You are kind and compassionate toward us even when we mess up. You show us what faithful love looks like. Thank You for never leaving or forsaking us! Today, remind us of all the ways You have shown up in our life. You are worthy of our worship. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.

There's a lot to be thankful for

Behind Every Good and Perfect Gift

“Behind every good and perfect gift are the favours of God.”

Every good thing we receive in our lives has God as its source. People may help us, opportunities may come, and doors may open; but behind them all is the hand of God.

Sometimes, we rejoice over the blessing we have received, but forget the One who gave us that blessing. Don’t just look at the gift; look to the Giver.

Be thankful not only for what God has given you, but also for the things He has withheld from you. For He knows better than we do what is truly good for us.

“Every good gift is a reminder that God continues to be good to us.”

James 1:17
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights…”

Hepsi Sam

The Lord gives, the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord. The peace that Jesus gives us is not the peace of the world, but a peace beyond all understanding. Grasp onto that peace and rejoice in the Lord's grace, and be thankful and grateful for everything the Lord has blessed you with and stripped you of. Blessed be His perfect will. He has plans of prosperity for us. The trials are the way there, to purify our faith, to sanctify us, to prove us as gold is proven through fire. Jesus is the vine, and the Lord is the dresser of the vine, and we are the branches. If we bear fruit, we are pruned more often to bear more fruit. Thus, accept the challenges and the trials God gives you; rejoice in them, as they are efforts to bring out more fruit from you.