The Power of Being Thankful: 365 Devotions for Discovering the Strength of Gratitude (22 page)

When people try something, but are unsuccessful, one of the primary reasons they give up is that they feel like “a failure.” The truth is we are never a failure unless we give up. Even though we do our best, we all have times when things just don’t work out the way we hope they will. We may fail at one thing, or even a few things, but that certainly does not make us failures in life.

Believe it or not, we should actually be grateful for the failures we encounter because they help prepare us for future success. Failing at some things humbles us and teaches us the lessons we need to learn for the next challenge ahead of us. You don’t have to feel defeated from failure; think of failure as fuel for greater determination and success in the future.

Father, when I am in a difficult situation and tempted to give up, help me to remember that You are with me. Thank You that You give me the strength and determination to keep going. And thank You that no matter what happens, I know You have a good plan for my life.

As children of God, one of the things we can be grateful for is the knowledge that God has destined us to do great things. He created you for a purpose. He has opportunities He wants to give you and assignments He wants to entrust to you.

I’m sure you’ve realized by this point in your life that you will face opposition as you follow God. People who are called to greatness meet great challenges. God never promised us it would be easy. In fact, He guarantees we will have adversity in this world (see John 16:33). But He also promises to be with us through difficulties, to fight on our behalf, and to strengthen us to overcome any obstacle we confront.

No matter what comes your way, keep following the Lord in faith and with a grateful heart, knowing that He has destined you to do great things for His glory.

I thank You, God, that You have given me a hope and a future. Help me to follow Your leading and walk in my destiny. I trust Your guidance, and I am thankful for Your presence and power in my life.

Peace is our inheritance from Jesus, and this is something to be thankful for. The Bible teaches that peace is to be the “umpire” in our lives, settling every issue that needs a decision. To gain and maintain peace in our hearts, we must choose to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit and learn when to say no to certain things.

For example, if we don’t feel peace about something, we should never go ahead and do it. And if we don’t have peace
while
we are doing something, then we shouldn’t expect to have peace
after
we have done it.

The presence of peace can help us decide and settle with finality all questions that arise in our minds. If you let the Word of God have its home in your heart and mind, it will give you insight, wisdom, and peace.

I thank You today, Father, that You have given me peace as my inheritance. Help me to let go of every worry and anxiety that would try to weigh me down. Instead, I choose to let peace guide me through all things in my life.

Most people are afraid to be different from everyone else. They are more comfortable following a crowd than daring to follow the leading of God’s Spirit. When we follow the example of others, we may please people, but when we step out in faith and follow God’s Spirit, we please Him.

There is a fulfillment that comes when we learn to untie the boat from the dock, so to speak, and let the ocean of God’s Spirit take us wherever He wills. When we are in control, we strive to decide what will happen next, but when we let God’s Spirit take the lead, we are in for a lot of God-ordained surprises in life.

We can be grateful that God has a unique, individual plan for each of us! Let’s be determined to be ourselves and refuse to spend our lives feeling inferior just because we are different from someone else.

Father, thank You for my uniqueness. I am grateful that I don’t have to follow the crowd in life—all I have to do is follow You. Today, I will look to You and not to others. Lead me and guide me as I follow You wholeheartedly.

When we have confidence in God and choose to be secure in Him, we can progress to living confidently and enjoying the life He wants for us. Note that I said “confidence in God,” not in ourselves. Usually, when people think of confidence, they think of self-confidence. There are many voices in society urging you to “believe in yourself!” That is what we
don’t
want to do! Our confidence must be in Christ alone, not in ourselves, not in other people, and not in the world or its systems.

Thankfully, we can have a confidence rooted in Christ, knowing that He is everything we need—He is more than enough! The Bible states that we are sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency (see Philippians 4:13). Another way to say it would be, “we have confidence only because He lives in us, and it is His confidence that we draw from.” So go and live with confidence today—confident in Christ and His presence in your life.

I am grateful, Father, that I don’t have to go through life with insecurity and a lack of confidence. Because of Your presence and power in my life, I can experience a new boldness and a joy like never before. Thank You for Your strength that empowers me.