Seasonal Thoughts

The Thanksgiving holidays give us a reminder and an opportunity to be thankful to our God for who He is and for what He has done for us. I’ve been convicted this week that thanksgiving should be a greater part of my prayer life. It’s so easy to rush into my needs, rather than to be thankful. I’m reminded of the ten lepers who were healed and only one came back to thank Jesus for the miracle of healing.

An article in the Dallas Morning News also encouraged me to pray for those who may have needs in areas for which I am giving thanks. For example we daily thank God for the provision of food and that can be a reminder of those around us who are unable to provide food for their families. It also should remind us of those ministries who serve others by providing food for the hungry. Perhaps God may lead us to help one of those ministries in some way.

Perhaps the story of the lepers can remind us to be thankful for our health. Many around us are physically suffering and struggling with debilitating illnesses. These past few weeks my wife has struggled with her health and has been told she will contend with an immune deficiency the rest of her life. We are thankful for good medical care and that the diagnosis was not worse. We’ve been reminded anew of the need to pray especially for those we know who are struggling with debilitating diseases.

We read daily of strife around our world and are thankful that we live in a peaceful nation. Many in other countries such as Sudan, Iran, Israel, etc. live in physically dangerous situations and we should pray for them as well as those who are striving to help them obtain a peaceful existence.

As we thank God for our religious freedom we should regularly pray for those persecuted Christians around the world. We should also pray for those who earnestly seek to protect our freedom worship. Are you praying for missionaries you know who are taking the Gospel to these strife torn areas?

We also thank God for His provision in our life and are reminded of several we know who do not have jobs or are under employed. As we pray for them we should be sensitive to need we might help meet.

Finally, as we approach the Christmas season and the reminder of the birth of our Savior we should thank God for His love and willingness to send His Son to pay the price for our sins and provide an eternal life with Him.