The Power of Being Thankful: 365 Devotions for Discovering the Strength of Gratitude (50 page)

We often hear about a prayer need or think about a situation and say to ourselves,
I need to pray about that later when I pray
. That thought is a stall tactic of the enemy. Why not pray right that minute? Procrastination is one of the major things that the devil uses to keep us from ever doing the right thing. Never put off until later what you can do right now!

Prayer would be easy if we just followed our hearts, but Satan wants us to procrastinate because he is hoping that we will forget the matter entirely.

A grateful heart is already focused on the Lord and ready to pray at any moment. Praying as we sense the desire or need to pray is easy to do, and it is the way we can pray continually and stay connected to God in every situation throughout the day.

Father, I thank You for the power of prayer. When there is a prayer need that comes to my attention, I’m going to talk to You about it immediately. Thank You that You are always ready to hear my prayer.

Humility is knowing we cannot succeed by trusting in ourselves and our own human effort. Instead, we trust in God, thankful that He does what we cannot. As we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and lean on Him at all times, He always equips us to do what we should be doing. Most human failure comes from people trying to do things in their own strength without relying on God.

I have found that when I feel frustrated, it is because I am exerting fleshly effort trying to do something that only God can do. I suggest that when you feel frustrated that you stop and ask yourself if you are doing the same thing. Works of the flesh equal frustration, and works of the flesh mean that I am working without God.

We can live the joyful, overcoming life God has for us when we realize God helps those who know they cannot help themselves—those who realize they are totally dependent on Him and are grateful that He will provide everything they need.

Father, I am thankful that I do not have to depend on my own strength or best effort to get through life. Thank You that You are here to guide me and help me each day. I trust You and I place my life in Your hands.

When we believe God is asking us to do something, we often begin with the questions:
What am I going to have to give up if I do this? If I do this, what will it cost me? If I do this, how uncomfortable am I going to be?

The truth is that anything we do for God requires an investment. Part of loving Him involves a willingness to lay our lives down for Him. If God has been asking you to do something and you have been procrastinating because you know it will require sacrifice on your part, I urge you to go ahead and do it. Nothing feels better than knowing you have fully obeyed the Lord.

Do not be afraid of sacrifice when God calls you or puts something in your heart that He wants you to do. His plan for your life is greater than anything you can imagine. Be thankful that His plan is best and determine that you will pay the price and pass the test. I assure you, it is worth it.

I thank You today, Father, that no sacrifice I make for You will ever be without great benefit for my life. Fill me with the faith and strength to do all that You call me to do. I choose to obey Your voice in every single area of my life.

We will all go through trying situations in life, some more difficult than others. Many times, we think the phrase “I’m going through something” is bad news, but if we view it properly, we realize
going
through is good; it means we are not stuck! We may be facing difficulties, but we can be thankful that at least we are moving forward.

We will face a variety of things, but those things we go through are the very circumstances, challenges, and situations that make us people who know how to overcome adversity. We do not grow or become strong during life’s good times; we grow when we press through difficulties without giving up. When we do what we know is right even when it is difficult, uncomfortable, or inconvenient, we grow spiritually and we are strengthened.

I am grateful, Father, that even when times are tough, I can depend on You to carry me through. I am grateful that I can face any challenge because You are with me.

Joy in life is a wonderful thing to have. We may want to see changes in our circumstances, but we don’t have to allow unpleasant situations to make us miserable. We can be grateful that joy makes some of those less-desirable circumstances more bearable. Even when you are going through something that is difficult, you can release joy in your life by
expecting
something good to happen.

Joy can vary in intensity from calm delight to extreme hilarity. It is closely connected to our expectations (what we think and believe). One meaning of joy is: “The passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good.”
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In other words, our joy is affected by how much we expect good things to happen to us. Don’t fear or expect bad things to come your way. Pray, believe, and expect God’s best for your life—then watch your joy increase.

Father, I thank You for Your joy. Today I will live in a faithful expectation of Your goodness in my life. I will rejoice in Your love and Your faithfulness.