The Power of Being Thankful: 365 Devotions for Discovering the Strength of Gratitude (66 page)
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Authors: Joyce Meyer
Tags: #Religion / Christian Life / Devotional, #Religion / Devotional, #Religion / Christian Life / Inspirational, #Religion / Christian Life / Spiritual Growth
For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you.
1 THESSALONIANS 1:4 NIV
How we treat ourselves is often how we treat others. This is one reason why we need to be good to ourselves, and yet not be self-centered. We should respect and value ourselves.
Don’t focus on your faults. We all have strengths and weaknesses. We should use our strengths and not stress out over our weaknesses, realizing that God’s strength shows itself strong in them (see 2 Corinthians 12:9). After all, if we had no weaknesses, we would not need Jesus. He came for those who are imperfect and weak, and that is all of us.
You can enjoy peace with yourself, but you will have to pursue it. Make a decision that since you are with you all the time, you should like yourself. God created you, and He does not make junk, so start being grateful for your strengths and stop stressing over your weaknesses.
I thank You today, Father, that You love me; You’ve chosen me and created me as a beautiful, unique individual. Help me see myself the same way You see me. Thank You that I can live in peace, knowing that I have been fearfully and wonderfully made by You.
And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.
EPHESIANS 4:32
Do any totally stress-free relationships exist? I doubt it, but thankfully there are steps we can take to improve our relationships. Let me share four steps with you:
| • | Step 1: Develop and maintain peace with God and peace with yourself. Then and only then will you begin to develop a mind-set that allows you to live in peace with others. |
| • | Step 2: Don’t expect people to be perfect, because they won’t be. This is an unrealistic expectation that will damage your relationships. |
| • | Step 3: Don’t expect everyone to be like you… because they aren’t. Discovering that we are all uniquely different solves many relationship conflicts. |
| • | Step 4: Be an encourager, not a discourager. Everyone loves to be with people who celebrate and notice strengths and choose to ignore weaknesses. |
Father, I am grateful for the relationships I have with the people in my life. Let Your love flow through me as I purpose to strengthen these relationships. I thank You that I can do my part to build healthy, life-giving, stress-free relationships.
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
ISAIAH 43:18 NIV
One of the beautiful things about life in Christ is that every day is a new beginning—a fresh start. We don’t have to regret yesterday or dread tomorrow. We can celebrate today, thankful for God’s presence in the moment.
There’s a saying I love that goes like this: “Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift; that’s why it’s called the present.”
We can enjoy every moment of our lives and stay focused on the present. We shouldn’t dwell on the past or look too far into the future, but we need to realize the present moment is God’s gift to us
right now
. Let’s make the decision to be grateful for today, live it to the full, and enjoy every part of it!
Father, thank You for the gift of today. Regardless of my past problems or my future challenges, I choose to celebrate my life with You in the present. Thank You that this is the day You have made; I will rejoice and be glad in it.
David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”
1 SAMUEL 17:45 NIV
Many times we are far too fearful of trials and trouble. At the first sign of trouble, we begin to shrink back in fear. The believers who lived in past centuries seemed to display a different strength than most do today. We are rather accustomed to convenience and usually don’t do well with suffering of any type; it frightens us.
Let’s remember how David faced the giant Goliath and be joyful and thankful that we can defeat our enemies too. We can attack fear rather than letting it rule us. You are much more than your feelings. You are a powerful, wise, beloved child of God, and you can do whatever you need to do in life through Christ, who is your strength (see Philippians 4:13).
Thank You, Father, for the strength that I have because You are with me. No matter how difficult a challenge may seem, I will attack it with boldness because I know that nothing is impossible for You.
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
JOHN 15:7 NKJV
Faith is our plug into the grace and power of God. Think of a lamp. The lamp can give light only if it is plugged into a power source. If it is unplugged, it will not work, no matter how many times we turn the switch on and off.
I was once in a hotel room trying to get a lamp to work, and in frustration, thought,
Can’t these hotels even provide a lamp that works?!
Then someone from the maintenance department came to my room, only to discover the lamp was unplugged.
Let me ask you, “Are you unplugged?” Have you let fear steal your faith? If you have, don’t worry about it. Just decide right now that you are thankful for a new chance. Decide that you are going to have a new attitude, one that is filled with boldness, courage, and faith. “Plug in” and let your light shine.
Father, help me to plug into Your power today. I thank You for the faith that You have given me that simply needs to be activated. Today, I believe Your promises and I stand in faith ready to see them come to pass in my life.