As I prayed this morning for my daily bread of whatever God knew I needed for nourishment I prayed He would feed me the affirmation He intended. I had one of those moments where a thought came from no where and I wondered why I can let my mind wander in such a time of reverence to my LORD. It just does.
He wired me so I know he shakes His head and chuckles at times at my lack of focus. BUT, this morning, since it is the day before thanksgiving I wondered to myself should I search through my database of harvested affirmations and look for the word thanksgiving?
It just didn’t feel right that I would force an affirmation just to please my Facebook friends, no I will just stay the course and follow in the Celebrate Recovery Participant guide 1 he has me in now. I won’t force it and will just go with the flow. John Baker referenced Jeremiah 30:17 where God promised the Israelites He would bring them back to health and heal their wounds. So I went to Jeremiah 30 to see what treasures the LORD would provide there.
The first verse that caused me to pause was Jeremiah 30:5: “For thus says the LORD, ‘ I have heard a sound of terror, Of dread, and there is no peace. (NASB) That struck me as odd. What does terror and dread “SOUND” like? The LORD can sense our terror, our dread, and our worries that rob us of peace. LORD you have senses I don’t understand don’t you? I felt thankful that He was all powerful and was well aware of those things that robbed me and others of peace. His understanding is way above mine.
In verse 30:11 it stood out to me that the LORD says I must endure consequences of my actions and the world around me. He says…”But I will chasten you justly And will by no means leave you unpunished.’ (NASB) My affirmation for that was just one of “I will endure my punishment.” I thought there are just consequences in the sins of the world but I felt a peace and yes, a thanksgiving that although He will punish, ultimately I will rest in His peace.
Then there was ‘For I will restore you to health And I will heal you of your wounds,’ declares the LORD, (Jeremiah 30:17 NASB). There is no doubt in that statement and I was thankful for His restoration of health and His healing of wounds. I wondered though, why don’t you heal all? I just thought I have to trust His will and His senses and His knowledge of all time.
As I read along I came across verse 19: ‘From them will proceed thanksgiving… (NASB) My mind did one of those double takes as it took me a moment to realize what had just happened. Wait, there is the word thanksgiving and I didn’t even have to search for it. It is right here, right where God already had me. Is that too weird? Is that a coincidence? Believe what you will but for me I am rejoicing and feeling thanksgiving spill out of me. Other versions of this scripture said “OUT OF THEM” or “FROM” them came thanksgiving. Some say songs, some say rejoicing. At this moment I wished I knew a song of thanksgiving that I could sing, out of tune, but just sing. This writing is my song. How does your thanksgiving come out?
I could feel thanksgiving well up in my chest and just spill out. So yes, out of me comes thanksgiving. God you are too funny. You knew this morning when I prayed and had that thought that I could have gone and looked elsewhere for a message to please others that if I just stayed on your plan you would provide exactly what I was looking for. Do you wonder how many times we have gone looking for things where God had it for us right where we were?
Can you find thanksgiving where you are? God can sense where you are. He reminds us in Jeremiah 30:22: ‘You shall be My people, And I will be your God.'” (NASB) Are you thankful?
Tom Raines
Christian Affirmations 4 Life
I love this! I saw your scripture and thought, how neat–look what Tom found. And the Lord lead you straight to it. Thank you again.
Thanks Julie, He did lead me straight to it today. It really is neat when things like this happen. He gets me there so many times in spite of myself! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
thank you for writing this. i was looking for something like this. out of me will come songs of thanksgiving. thank you tom.
Judd, thank you for stopping by. God is so faithful to show us what we are looking for isn’t He. Seek and ye shall find rings true. May your songs of thanksgiving pour out!
Come back and see us any time!
Tom
I have just celebrated the two-year anniversary of what was, bar none, the most painful and darkest time of my life. What’s so amazing is that if someone would have told me, then, that I would one day actually be thankful, well, I would have simply laughed in disbelief. NO WAY. And yet…here I am. That crushing pressure brought me to my knees. John 10:10… That which the devil used to try and (steal, kill and) destroy in me, God took and turned into something which gave me…life: an intimate relationship with His Son. I gave Him my heart…and He gave me life. I remind myself that everything else…everything else is bonus, and I am filled with gratitude. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours Tom.
Cindy, I hear your gratitude loud and clear and so can relate to “He gave me life” and an intimate relationship after I was brought to my knees. I too am filled and overflowing! Wishing you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving as well!
…He gave me life…
“Yesterday was the day I was alone. Now I’m in the presence of Almighty God! Yes our God, He is a consuming fire and His flames burn down deep in our souls.”
From the band Third Day’s song “Consuming Fire”.
Cindy, He gave us life, indeed. What an honor, privilege, and blessing. Such as it is with The New Covenant.
In His presence I lay myself upon His alter. Consume me Father God, I am yours. Thank You God!
I can find thanksgiving where I am. I can find it here in this blog. I am thankful that our paths have crossed Tom. amazing how God brings people together in seemingly the strangest ways. Blessings to you and the family this Thanksgiving.
Bill I too am thankful for our relationship. I am thankful that somehow Robin had met you online. You have impacted my life and encouraged this path more than you will ever know. I treasure your relationship and am thankful for your example. Blessings to you and your family as well!
Tom and Bill,
I am thankful to have “met” you both here in this sterile and cold world of the Internet. Your words and encouragements have made it less chilly, and you have both caused me to consider the deeper things of our Father.
We shall probably never meet this side of Heaven, and miles separate us right now, but fellowship in The Spirit of our God always bridges the gap, doesn’t it?
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, and may God truly bless us, keep us, and make His face to shine upon us. (We need You, Father. We simply cannot do this without You.)
In the mighty Name of Jesus, the Name above all names,
Donald in Bethel, CT
Donald, I can’t say it any better than that. I am thankful for our new banding together as brothers to spur each other on to serve Him and His kingdom. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
In the mighty name of Jesus,
Tom
Somehow, I just knew you have the perfect thing to say, today. YES, I am thankful, maybe more than ever before in my life. Hope y’all have a wonderful gathering of family and friends. We will be traveling to see my husband’s family this year. Here’s my .02 . . .
.01 – A coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous. -Einstein
.02 – Let us come before him with Thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. Psalm 95:2 (NIV)
~. Kim
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Kim, great we have reconnected here. Praying now that your travels are safe and we be reminded of our many blessings and be thankful for who God is. Thanking Him for His Spirit of Gratitude and love!
Blessings to you Tom. I do struggle at times to give thanks…but I always know that if I just take the time to slow down, breathe a little and think about what God has done for me just today…the blessings start to accumulate rather quickly. Thanks for your Daily Affirmations…although for me it seems as if I read three or four days at a time as I get behind…but know that each one is very well thought out and written and usually is “spot on” with what I am going through at the time.
Peace, Kevin
Thanks Kevin, you were one of my early encouragers as I started this journey and I am thankful for you. I pray God continues to fill you with gratitude and endurance. May God give you strength as you continue to love your family and help other families with special children. May you continue to be filled with courage, hope and thanksgiving.
In Christ’s Mighty Name,
Tom