Day 7 -
As you have been focusing on thankfulness, have you found some people, items, or circumstances for which it is hard to be thankful?
Dr. Helen Roseveare, long-time missionary doctor in the Congo, told of a point in her life when she was shamefully mistreated at the hands of rebel soldiers. She described the painful struggle that took place in her heart, as she sought to make some sense out of the humiliation and physical suffering she had undergone. Then she told of the release and peace that came when she sensed God asking here, "Helen, are you willing to give me thanks for that which I may never give you the privilege of understand?"
Make a list of past or present circumstances, events, trials, or relationships for which you may never have given thanks. Then, as an expression of faith and an exercise of obedience, say, "Lord, I choose to give You thanks for ____ and ____, which You may never give me the privilege of understanding." In so doing, you will be acknowledging that God is the "Blessed Controller" of everything that touches your life, and that you trust Him and His sovereign choices for your life.
Difficult things for which God wants me to give thanks:
There are many things that I could say here, but most of these things are private, that few people know. I am not going to share anything, but if you feel the Lord pushing you to comment and tell about something that is hard to be thankful for, go ahead.
Now that you've spend a week focusing on gratitude, we'd like to challenge you to make a lifetime habit of giving thanks. In fact, you'll discover that the whole world looks different, when you learn to see it through eyes of thankfulness!
You can find and print this out at Revive Our Hearts.
Thank you for joining me this week in "A Week of Thanksgiving," I hope you enjoyed it!
-Emily
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