November 20th, 2023
by John Kelley
by John Kelley
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 forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Psalm 103:1-5
This is the time of year when everything gets crazy. We’re rushing around trying to shop for gifts, decorate the house, and still find time to make an insane amount of food, for a large number of people, that will be gone within minutes of being set at the table. For college students, finals are quickly approaching, and many hours will be used trying to cram as much info as they can into their brains in order to get the grade they desire. Parents of children now have school programs, choir and band concerts, and dance recitals to fit into their schedule. Even the Church plans special services geared towards putting us in the right frame of mind for the holiday season. As a result, many deal with anxiety during this season of the year…..a season of Thanksgiving!!!
Be honest, how thankful are you really right now? Are you more stressed out than thankful? Are you more concerned with getting things done, and not being judged by your mother-in-law for making a subpar pumpkin pie? Holidays can really lose their luster sometimes.
King David knows a little something about stress. He ruled a nation, had his life threatened on multiple occasions, had to deal with personal sin that went public, and had parenting issues none of us will ever face. What was his response to all of this?
Thankfulness.
He simply tells himself, “Bless the Lord, O my soul.” Regardless of the many hardships he has had to deal with, God had always come through. In spite of his best efforts to separate himself from God, God never left him. He was there to redeem. He was there to forgive. He was there to heal.
It’s important for us to remember that, in the midst of all of the craziness we’re dealing with today, God hasn’t left you. He hasn’t forgotten you. Let’s not forget him either. The fact that you’re taking a moment to read this is already a step in the right direction. Now take some time to answer a few short questions, and spend some time in prayer today, but focus that prayer on being thankful for all that God has done, is doing, and will do over this crazy holiday season.
How can you, over the course of this week, take some time to simply be thankful for what God has done in your life? Family? Work? The Church? Where can you make the time and commit to it?
What are you thankful for today? Make a list.
Read Psalm 103:1-5 again, and make that your prayer today. Insert specific things that God has done for you within that prayer, and make that the focus of your day, not all the craziness that you need to do.
Psalm 103:1-5
This is the time of year when everything gets crazy. We’re rushing around trying to shop for gifts, decorate the house, and still find time to make an insane amount of food, for a large number of people, that will be gone within minutes of being set at the table. For college students, finals are quickly approaching, and many hours will be used trying to cram as much info as they can into their brains in order to get the grade they desire. Parents of children now have school programs, choir and band concerts, and dance recitals to fit into their schedule. Even the Church plans special services geared towards putting us in the right frame of mind for the holiday season. As a result, many deal with anxiety during this season of the year…..a season of Thanksgiving!!!
Be honest, how thankful are you really right now? Are you more stressed out than thankful? Are you more concerned with getting things done, and not being judged by your mother-in-law for making a subpar pumpkin pie? Holidays can really lose their luster sometimes.
King David knows a little something about stress. He ruled a nation, had his life threatened on multiple occasions, had to deal with personal sin that went public, and had parenting issues none of us will ever face. What was his response to all of this?
Thankfulness.
He simply tells himself, “Bless the Lord, O my soul.” Regardless of the many hardships he has had to deal with, God had always come through. In spite of his best efforts to separate himself from God, God never left him. He was there to redeem. He was there to forgive. He was there to heal.
It’s important for us to remember that, in the midst of all of the craziness we’re dealing with today, God hasn’t left you. He hasn’t forgotten you. Let’s not forget him either. The fact that you’re taking a moment to read this is already a step in the right direction. Now take some time to answer a few short questions, and spend some time in prayer today, but focus that prayer on being thankful for all that God has done, is doing, and will do over this crazy holiday season.
How can you, over the course of this week, take some time to simply be thankful for what God has done in your life? Family? Work? The Church? Where can you make the time and commit to it?
What are you thankful for today? Make a list.
Read Psalm 103:1-5 again, and make that your prayer today. Insert specific things that God has done for you within that prayer, and make that the focus of your day, not all the craziness that you need to do.
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