“For we live by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬ ‭

 I used to look for signs that God was there, something tangible that I could see and point to and show myself and others as proof that God had heard my prayer and He had given me clear direction. But that’s not living by faith. That’s living by sight. God doesn’t always give us a sign or that miracle we  prayed for. There’s not always a clearly marked path. And this becomes the ultimate stretching of our faith. Is God there when I can’t see Him at work, or when I can’t hear His voice, or I don’t get that sign, or life seems messy and doesn’t make sense? How do I take that next step when I am not sure? That can be a place where doubts and fears want to unsettle us and distract us. But it’s ok if we are battling doubts and fears. We don’t have to have all of the answers or a deep understanding. We just have to have a relationship with the One who does. We have to cling to the truths of His Word -“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭105‬ ‭

How grateful I am for His Word. It is the map for my life and the Holy Spirit is my experienced guide. My duty is not to have full knowledge of the journey but to trust that God desires for me to move forward. Faith is an action. If my heart wants to move closer to God and spiritual maturity, then that becomes my destination. I have to surrender my ideas of what that journey should look like and trust Him. 

”Faith isn't the ability to believe long and far into the misty future. It's simply taking God at His Word and taking the next step." - Joni Erickson Tada

Prayer: May God grant you the courage and strength to be willing to take the next step, and the next, and the next. Praise be to God who promises to guide us and never leave us alone. “I can feel His hand in mine, that’s all I need to know.”

We are not meant to be the source of our strength. God is meant to be the source. “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭29‬. What is our part? TO HOPE. 

This is not the kind of hope that is a feeling or mere wishful thinking. This is a hope that is anchored to something or someone. Isaiah 40:31 tells us the Source of our hope is the Lord. It also tells us that we are going to need something from that source. We will need renewal. Just like our electronic devices have to be plugged in to a source of electricity to recharge and be effective, we have to plug into our source. We are meant to have a relationship with God where we draw from His strength, His love, And His overflowing wisdom and grace. 

Recognizing that we will never be enough no matter how hard we try or how many self help books we read, is an important first step to understanding how desperately we need God. From that awareness of a deep seated need comes the natural flowing gratitude that we should approach Him with. It is a gratitude that is thankful that every time we fail and every time we falter, and every time we think we are at rock bottom, we can come to the Source of life itself and be renewed. Then, and only then can we soar. 

Prayer: Father, how grateful we are that we have a source of comfort and love to run to when we are tired and weary and worn down. We are grateful that we don’t have to be enough because You are enough. May we learn to rest and be restored as we anchor our hope in You! 

How has God given you strength when you felt weak?

“give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭18‬ ‭

The Christian life is meant to be lived in accordance with God’s will. The Holy Spirit works within us to help us transform into being more and more like Christ but we have to cooperate with that process through obedience. It is being in God’s will that we yield the most fruit. This verse gives us a clear and practical directive of His will: to give thanks. This is something anyone can apply to their life. Notice it doesn’t say we are to give thanks “for” all circumstances but to give thanks “in” all circumstances. I keep a gratitude journal. It’s a discipline I have found helpful in practicing gratitude. Even in my darkest and hardest days, I can find things to be grateful for. If earthly circumstances are hard, I focus on eternal circumstances and promises. I also look to those who were able to endure suffering and remain faithful and they were always able to give thanks in their circumstances. Examples include Joseph and the apostle Paul, Corey Ten Boom and Anne Frank. 

I love this quote from Anne: 

“I lie in bed at night, after ending my prayers with the words 'Ich danke dir für all das Gute und Liebe und Schöne.' (Thank you, God, for all that is good and dear and beautiful.)” - Anne Frank

Prayer: May gratitude shift your focus from the pain and suffering of a broken world to the love of your Heavenly Father. May the Holy Spirit reveal to you what is good and dear and beautiful.

Please write a couple of lines of Thanksgiving in the comments.

Psalm 92 opens with a statement  that immediately grabbed my attention, "It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night," (92:1-2)

This psalm couldn't have come at a better time for me, for just as I began to dig deeper into Psalm 92, a super sweet young woman came to me and burst into tears! 

If you were to look at her life, I'm sure you'd concur with me that she had so very much going for her. She was bright, beautiful, had what she considered her dream job, a family that loved and supported her and had found her "prince" that she would like to spend the rest of her life with! What could possibly be wrong with all that, I wondered. 

Fear! 

She was fearful that it would all come crashing down around her. The enemy had convinced her that it was all too good to be true and somehow, someway and at any moment it would all disintegrate.  She was so gripped by fear that she couldn't embrace all the blessings God had given her. Has that ever happened to you? 

My first thought as she was tearfully sharing all of this with me was John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Satan can't stop God from blessing His children, but he can set out to rob us of our joy. 

My second thought was Philippians 4:4-8 say, Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Cece's example seemed to me to be the perfect reason why God's word tells us, "It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night," (92:1-2) for:

_ Thanksgiving helps us see God. "Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights". (James 1:16-17) Giving thanks opens our spiritual eyes. The more we thank Him, the more we see Him working in and around us.