Bring Me the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Take nothing for granted, not even the rising of the sun. Before Satan tempted eve in the Garden of Eden, thankfulness was as natural as breathing. Satan's temptation involved pointing Eve to the one thing that was forbidden her. The garden was filled with luscious, desirable fruits, but Eve focused on the one fruit she couldn't have rather than being thankful for the many good things freely available. This negative focus darkened her mind, and she succumbed to temptation.
When you focus on what you don't have or on situations that displease you, your mind also becomes darkened. You take for granted life, salvation, sunshine, flowers, and countless other gifts from Me. You look for what is wrong and refuse to enjoy life until that is "fixed."
When you approach Me with thanksgiving, the Light of My Presence pours into you, transforming you through and through. Walk in the Light with Me by practicing the discipline of thanksgiving.
Psalm 116:17
New King James Version
I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving,
And will call upon the name of the Lord.
: A sacrifice is an oblation or offering to the Lord, like we would bring something before the Lord. We are presenting to Him something significant. Here, I am offering to the Lord my thanksgiving. As she says, "approach Me with thanksgiving." I begin with thanks. I don't begin with "give me, give me, give me" but begin with heartfelt thanks.
Genesis 3:2-6
English Standard Version
And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
: The woman added a requirement that wasn't there. She told the serpent the fruit could not be touched. God never said this. All the focus in these verses is on "give me more, give me more" versus thankfulness for what Adam and Eve had.
1 John 1:7
English Standard Version
but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
My Prayer
Lord, how absent is thankfulness often from my life. I come to life more often with wants and desires rather than thankfulness. Help me to not be so focused on tomorrow, but be thankful for what you do today and yesterday.
Lord, I spoke to a friend last night for an hour. He has a hard time seeing good in himself. He is so quick to say that there is something wrong with him. He struggles with different sins, like we all do, but he rarely can see much victory and instead he knocks himself over. It is like he doesn't really believe that he can find success. That maybe people listen to us less when everything is going well. He needs people in his life. Help him to value himself and to see Lord that you love him and accept him completely. Help him to see and believe that your love for him is unconditional. Give him motivation. He is being lured away by negative thoughts and thoughts of being defeated. Bring him back to being filled with the joy of the Lord.
Lord, help me to not be so quick with what is wrong and instead focus on what is right. Help me to not see the glass half empty, but half full. Lord, you are so great and have been so great to me. Help me to start with these praises and thanking You rather simply asking for more and my life to be better and free from problems. What matters is You are with me, through whatever comes my way.
Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. If you haven't already, please purchase the book and support the author.
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