Monday November 22, 2021

Today is Monday, November 22 and this week we explore what the Bible says about gratitude and thanksgiving. I encourage you to begin a “gratitude list” today. Every day this week add the things for which you are thankful. Your list will lengthen as you count your blessings.

As I approach this quiet time with God, I pause and become still. I breathe, just breathe slowly and deeply, and focus my mind on the Lord’s holy presence.

Pause and Pray

Loving God, I worship you in the quiet stillness of the morning. Help me hear the message you have for me today. Speak to me through the power of your Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

I praise God with a thankful heart speaking the ancient words of Psalm 52.

I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. I will thank you forever, because of what you have done. In the presence of the faithful I will proclaim your name, for it is good. Psalm 52:8-9

Pause and Pray

Living a life of gratitude is fundamental to the Christian life. Christians are a people of thanks. One of the easiest ways to begin a conversation with God is to spend a few minutes giving thanks and praising him. Being grateful is God’s intent for the believer. Living a life of gratitude is beneficial to health and well-being. In Luke 17, Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem. He is going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. Samaria was considered a foreign land, under Roman rule and given to Hellenistic influences. In New Testament times, Jews held hostility against Samaritans, so much so that devout Jews would go many miles out of their way to avoid traveling through that hated land. On his way from Judea to Galilee, Jesus deliberately cut through Samaria, where he had the famous encounter with the woman at the well. In this passage, Jesus travels along the border between Samaria and Galilee and has an encounter with ten lepers.

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Luke 17:11-18

I reflect on the times in my life when I, like the ten lepers, looked for Jesus and met him with a request. “Jesus, have pity on me! Do this or that for me.” There were seasons when I prayed earnestly to Jesus and my prayers were answered. When I received an answer to prayer, did I come back to Jesus praising God in a loud voice? Did I take the time to kneel at the feet of Jesus and thank him for his goodness? Was my heart filled with honest gratitude? I am aware that I often come to God with prayer requests in hand and sometimes forget to thank God for the answer. I wonder what percentage of the time I truly express gratitude. Is it one in ten (ten percent) like the one leper who gave thanks out of ten? Perhaps it is more or less. I also consider the way I express gratitude to other people. When are the words of thanksgiving readily on my lips and when is gratitude truly in my heart?

Ask: How intentional am I to express gratitude to God and others? How can I make thanksgiving a way of life?

Pause and Pray

Blessed Lord Jesus, thank you for coming near and listening to my prayers and supplications. I am grateful for the many blessings in my life and the answers you have provided to countless prayers. Forgive me when I neglect to express my gratitude to you and others. I recount my many blessings, kneel before you, praising God with sincere thanks. I read Luke again, listening for the message you have for me today.

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Luke 17:11-18

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

I consider the times in my life when I have been truly grateful and times when I was too preoccupied to have a thankful heart. When I am thankful I have a more positive outlook, am more joyful and able to notice the small blessings in each day. When I am self-focused and self-absorbed I begin to take people for granted and overlook my everyday blessings. These are instances when I do not make intentional efforts to give thanks. I am sometimes too busy or distracted to even offer grace before eating a meal. There is a lot I take for granted. I am not grateful for my food, home, clothing, and health. I take people for granted – my spouse, parents, teachers, doctors, friends, coworkers. I miss opportunities to express my gratitude and appreciation to the people around me. I hear Jesus speak these words directly to me, “Were you not also blessed? Where are you? Why have you not returned to give praise to God like this one leper?”

Pause and Pray

Come Holy Spirit, I invite you into my heart and life. Give me a heart of gratitude. Remind me of my many blessings and encourage me to write them down on my gratitude list. One by one I count the blessings of this day. I give thanks and praise God for his generous faithfulness, steadfast love, mercy and goodness. Amen.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise.” 1 Chronicles 16:34-35

As I leave this time of prayer and go throughout my day, I go with a grateful heart, thanking God and expressing my sincere gratitude to the people around me. Amen.