Things to Be Thankful For

In no particular order...

My wonderful and hard-working husband; my loving God; my supportive family; my encouraging friends; a roof over my head; clothes to wear; shoes on my feet; a more mild day outside during this brutal winter; my cat; the Well; wisdom; a warm bed to sleep in at night; answered (and unanswered) prayers; food to eat; unexpected blessings; grace; the kindness of people; books; dark chocolate; Reese's cups; growth as a person; Young Adult Bible Study; photography; thoughtful gifts; safety; kind neighbors; coffee; good health; God's Word; the Holy Spirit inside of me; hope; perfect peace; writing; a hot shower in the morning; Netflix; Pinterest; the opportunities that I've had to travel; God's financial provision; music; comfy clothing; flowers; fragrant candles; mountains; beautiful sunrises and sunsets; fuzzy socks; laughter...and I will keep adding to this list. It helps to lift me up when I'm feeling down. :-)

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
~ 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Trials that Transform

I thank You for the bitter things
They've been a friend to grace,
They've driven me from the paths of ease
To storm the secret place.
~Florence White Willett

Father, I'm so delighted that You are both loving and sovereign, and that You cause all things to work together for good to those who love You, to those who are called according to Your purpose. So I thank You for each disturbing or humbling situation in my life, for each breaking or cleansing process You are allowing, for each problem or hindrance, for each thing that triggers in me anxiety or anger or pain. And I thank You in advance for each disappointment, each demanding duty, each pressure, each interruption that may arise in the coming hours and days.

In spite of what I think or feel when I get my eyes off You, I choose not to resist my trials as intruders, but to welcome them as friends.

Thank You that each difficulty is an opportunity to see You work...that in Your time You will bring me out to a place of abundance. I rejoice that You plan to enrich and beautify me through each problem, each conflict, each struggle...that through them You expose my weaknesses and needs, my hidden sins, my self-centeredness (and especially my self-reliance and pride). Thank You that You use trials to humble me and perfect my faith and produce in me the quality of endurance...that they prepare the soil of my heart for the fresh new growth in godliness that You and I both long to see in me...and that my momentary troubles are producing for me an eternal glory that far outweighs them all, as I keep my eyes focused on You. I'm grateful that You look beyond my superficial desire for a trouble-free life; instead, You fulfill my deep-down desire to glorify You, enjoy Your warm fellowship, and become more like Your Son.

~Taken from 31 Days of Praise, by Ruth Myers