11/21/2022
Today is Monday, and on Thursday of this week we here in the United States will give thanks to God. It is a national holiday during which we thank Him again for another year of His provision, and mercy, but many who are new to faith, have become routine in their practices, or don’t know Him at all, are at a loss as to how to really do this. So, beginning today, and each day through Thursday I will write more about giving thanks to God. Today let’s talk about the first step… remembering, and witnessing to others.
“And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.”
Isaiah 12:4 ESV
The first way in which we should give thanks is to meditate on the amazing and good things we have experienced over the past year. Then to look back on them and identify the way in which God’s hand can be found at work there. It might be an unexpected windfall in our business, being healed from sickness, the revitalization of a relationship, being fed when we were hungry, passing courses in school that were exceptionally hard, or any one of a million other things that have occurred in our lives. We must remind ourselves of these things because it is hard to give thanks until we know what we are giving thanks for.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
James 1:17 ESV
Then, as we identify yet another way in which God has blessed us over the past year, let’s tell others about our recollections of them, and perhaps share our remembrances with those who were there with us as witnesses, or who joined with us in that particular blessing. Let’s say to them “Remember when _______ happened? Did you see how that was such a God thing?” Do this just as the two disciples did when they met Jesus on the road to Emmaus…
“They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?””
Luke 24:32 ESV
In this way our testimony is engrained in us, glorifies God, and ignites the faith of others. We testify to these things before offering thanks so that others will hear the truth regarding what has happened in our lives, and be saved.
“He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe.”
John 19:35 ESV
So let’s pray today that the Holy Spirit not only give us remembrance of God’s Word, and those things that Jesus said, but of the experiences and encounters we have personally known with God in our own lives. Let’s pray that our testimony will bring these verses to life in us… and lead others to believe as they see God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit moving in our lives today.
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
John 14:26 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your many blessings, and for allowing us to share them with others so that they can see how you are actively moving in our lives, and world, today. Thank you Lord for using us to encourage others by promoting us to tell aloud our testimonies. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who keeps your scripture alive in us by abiding with us always, and through our daily interaction with you. Praised be your name for every blessing, every rescue from sin, and every escape from temptation. Merciful are you who shields us from evil, and allows us to share the amazing experiences we have in your arms with others so that our faith might give strength to theirs through the example of our daily walk with you. Your grace is sufficient for us, and sharing how it is working in us serves to reveal it to others as they longingly search for you. Help us to be more open with our testimonies so that others will be saved, by them. Then, as we thank you, let them see how we can bless you in return. Hear us thank you as we have heard Jesus thank you, and be pleased with us Father just as you are in Him… for all eternity.
“In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.”
Luke 10:21 ESV
Rich Forbes