You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. – PSALM 23:5
I love how God set up our Thanksgiving holiday to fall just before Christmastime and then the New Year. It paints an amazing picture of Redemption. A heart of thankfulness to God yields blessings and gifts, which in turn brings new life where the old passes away and the new is born.
Before I became a Christian I was far from thankful. I was blind to God’s sovereignty and what He had in store for my future. As I grew to know Him better, I became more and more thankful because I saw Him moving in my life and in the lives around me. I began to recognize His beauty in creation whenever I gazed at the stars or watched the sun set over the ocean. I saw Him everywhere!
I even had a specific word prayed over me after church one Sunday— that I’d become an abundantly thankful woman—I would be so thankful that I’d even thank God for my toaster. I found it hard to be thankful at that time in my life because I was suffering through several trials at once— including health, marriage, and financial stress. But regardless I received the prayer, and that week I chose to be thankful—even for my toaster. Guess what happened? My toaster broke. Then my washing machine. And yes, even my car. All that same week!
The old ungrateful me would have spiraled into a pit. But instead, I called my friend who had prayed and told her what happened. She laughed. Not because she’s mean. She just wasn’t surprised. Long story short she basically said, “There’s a good guy and there’s a bad guy. When we believe the good guy and do what He says, the bad guy gets mad.” She told me to keep being thankful no matter what.
It didn’t happen overnight, but as I continued to choose thankfulness (even when I didn’t feel thankful) or when I declared Gods goodness (no matter what my circumstances looked like) eventually I saw blessings and gifts pour into my life and overflow into other people’s lives. The Lord honored my faith by granting me more faith and more joy. And He continues to make me new, day by day, as I trust in Him.
If you’re in a tough season where thankfulness is the last thing you feel like doing, do it anyways. God is preparing a feast for you in the presence of your enemies. Christmas will come. And a new season of fresh hope will soon fill your cup.
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