I awaken before dawn to a new Thanksgiving morning. Last evening’s worship service reminded me of the things that the Lord has been “Lord” over in my life this past year.
I started the year in anxiety about all the financial responsibility that I have and how I royally missed opportunities to correct some of them. I learned that I sometimes wait too long to decide if something is right for me and miss opportunities.
We have all experienced Holy Spirit is working in a loving way to reveal us to ourselves. It usually in distress and discomfort when we learn that we need His power to live in this world. And for that, I give thanks.
A year ago, I was angry at the companies who caused the mortgage meltdown and sent my mortgage to another bank with no empathy for my situation. I had an attitude and refused to play along with their rules. All the while, I complained to Holy Spirit and anyone who would listen about my unfair situation. I didn’t ask for my mortgage to be transferred to another company. I did not ask to be in a car accident that totaled my car and cause a new car debt. I did not ask for the debt that my former husband left me to bear.
Financial security has always been important to me. I give thanks that the Lord has shown me that I can survive any situation if I trust Him. Trust Him and pay the mortgage. Trust Him and pay the car note. Trust Him and pay the debt that does not belong to me.
I give thanks this Thanksgiving morning to a heavenly Father who can do all things. He continually speaks to the hearts of mankind that nothing is impossible for Him.
I give thanks for the blood of Jesus that laid a foundation in my life. A foundation that gives me an inheritance with the saints of my Heavenly Father. My inheritance gives me healing and a host of other heavenly blessings, privileges, and rights on earth and in heaven. My spiritual healing has given me a peaceable life. Oh, how wonderful is a peaceful life in Jesus, even when everything is not perfect.
I admire the oak trees in my yard that turned a beautiful reddish-auburn color this last week. The leaves of might oaks are the last to change color in the fall. However, when the leaves change color, they are on display all by themselves. They give us the signal that winter is fast approaching. It does not matter to the trees whether the past summer was hot, strong winds blew against their boughs, or last winter’s snows weighed heavy on their shoulder. They keep doing what God created them to do. They keep growing until the cycle of their life is no more.
Like the tree, I must keep growing in the seasons of my life. We
always say “seasons of life,” but we never emphasize “life.” We hear a lot
about “seasons” but not much about “life.” If there is no life, there are no
seasons. Seasons depend on life, and life depends on seasons. Therefore, I give
thanks for the seasons and lessons of life that will make me more like Jesus. I
have a promise that He will perfect me in His time.