Dear Father,

How can I say thanks for all the abundant blessings in my life? May I continue to have an appreciative heart.

Dear Child,

Having a thankful heart is living the abundant life!

Having a thankful heart is a life full of joy!

Having a thankful heart is a life that can be molded to My will!

Having a thankful heart is the life of a true worshipper!

                                        Thus saith Papa

Psalm 103:1-5  Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Joel 2:21 Fear not; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.

 Why does God continually remind us to be thankful?

   1. A thankful heart is full of praise, which ushers us into His presence. 

   2. A thankful heart blesses the Father’s heart. 

   3. A thankful heart is a soft, pliable heart that God can mold to His image. 

   4. A thankful heart is a joyous heart that strengthens us spiritually. 

   5. A thankful heart remembers His faithfulness in the past thereby feeding our faith to

       trust Him for our future. 

   6. A thankful heart will be a good steward of blessings. 

When we cry unto the Lord, “restore unto me the joy of thy salvation” (Psalm 51:12); we are really crying out for a grateful heart! A complaining heart soon becomes a heart drowning in self-pity that will quench your joy. The fruit of thankfulness is joy and joy results in spiritual strength and fulness of life! “…neither be ye sorry;? for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).

CHALLENGE:       Be thankful lest the enemy steals the joy of the abundant life.

                             Be thankful that you may be conformed on the potter’s wheel.

                             Be thankful that you may enter His presence as a true worshipper.

“How can I say thanks for all the things that you have done for me,

Things so undeserved yet you gave to prove your love for me,

The voices of a thousand angels could not express my gratitude,

All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe it all to thee.

To God be the glory for the things He has done.”

by Andre Crouch

 The above photo captures our joy as we celebrated God’s faithfulness during our 45 years together.

Dear Father,

May I never cease to praise You for the works of Your hand, as I look at my garden in the autumn how it manifests not only Your glory but also Your faithfulness in the seasons of the earth.

Oh, Papa, as I place my life, body, soul and spirit in Your hands, the hands of the great Husbandman, may the garden of my life  also bring glory to Your name and display Your faithfulness in the changing seasons of my life.

Everything in my garden has a unique purpose, and therein lies the beauty and the glory for everything in my garden, that it fulfills its unique purpose in Your timing. All so different and yet all so beautiful.

Papa may I also bloom in my uniqueness in Your timing.

Dear Child,

Therein lies the glory that you bloom in your uniqueness, for then you are fulfilling the purpose of your creation.  

Watered from heaven, nourished by the Word, faithfully tend the garden of your life that the cares of this world and weeds of discouragement do not strangle and choke the potential bloom.

This bloom in all its beauty will bring glory to My name and testify of My faithfulness, just as your horticultural garden does.

                                                   Thus saith My Faithful Papa

Revelation 4:11  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

 Ephesians 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

CHALLENGE: You may be facing rare seasons that others have not had to face, but these seasons will bring uniqueness to the potential bloom and harvest of your life. So don’t labor or strive to bloom in someone else’s potential, but rather bring glory to His name by resting in His faithfulness as the unique flower He created you to be.

Dear Child,

You praise Me not only through song but you praise Me everyday through your life by your words, your thoughts, your attitudes and your actions.

A heart of gratitude is a praising heart

A heart of humility is a worshipping heart

A heart of holiness is a regenerated heart

A heart that surrenders to My will is a trusting heart.

Thus saith Papa

Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me. Isaiah: 29:13

CHALLENGE: Is your everyday life only lukewarm or is it on fire for Him?

See Chapter Nine in “Developing a Secret History with God” to inspire you as you press into His presence with a heart full of praise.

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