Thankful

"Rejoice always,
Pray continually,
Give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
1Thess 5:16-18

It takes thoughtful, intentional consideration to be thankful.
As the banner in the header reads: "Remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for."
What are you thankful for today?
Dig deep, look around, and go way past the material stuff that surrounds you:
Salvation.
God's furious love and lovingkindness
God's amazing grace.
God extending such undeserved mercy.
Family. Friends. Health. Life.
Such thoughts are God's will for us, as the Scriptures tell us above;
At the same time we must make an intentional effort to reject those thoughts that smell like smoke;
thoughts demonically inspired to bring sorrow, anxiety, and discouragement...
Those sneaking thoughts that seek to remind us of losses and failures, remembrances of  hardships and trials
but trying to block our spirits and attitudes from the fullness of our testimonies
and our Father's redemptive plans as we seek Him alone with thanksgiving (Jer. 29:11-13).

Beloved, Thanksgiving is not a one day celebration.
It is meant to be celebrated continually, not just daily, but moment by moment.
Thanksgiving: Just do it.

The Plan

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
Jer.29:11-13

People love to quote Jer.29:11, but what about the next verses?

His Chosen People were warned at the beginning, way back in Deut. 28, what would happen if they neglected God and worshipped idols.
How is it that we are we entered into captivity? Are we any different?
We become enslaved to whatever, whoever it is that has a hold over us, spending our time and efforts on what amounted to idols…
“Captors” don’t come and take prisoners without cause-without the “gates” left unguarded.
Banishment from holiness doesn’t happen without us being opened up to unholy things…
Let’s talk about responsibility here and wrong doors cracked and guardposts left unwatched.
Captivity is brought when one stops seeking the LORD, seeking other worthless pursuits instead; the result not maintaining a prayer life and personal relationship with God.
The Plan He has for each of us is spelled out plainly here:
He requires us to call on Him, cultivate our prayer lives, seek Him and then finding Him-
the end result is a return to our First Love-and a return from exile to Kingdon living and Holiness.

Questions

 

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes s0 that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.  Remain in me, as I also remain in you.
No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."
John 15:1-4

Yesterday was a struggle. I was feeling the weight of bad decisions, decisions that had tremendous negative financial consequences for me and my family. I felt really down, and the only voice I honestly heard as I wallowed in self-pity was that of the one who specializes in accusing, demeaning and otherwise dragging us downwards-the devil himself. I questioned so many things, I played back so many crossroad moments where I made impulsive or bad choices.
I saw a quote this morning from Mike Bickle regarding deception: "The lifestyle to keep from deception: Keep talking to the Lord. Set your heart to obey. Stay in dialogue with the Lord about His Word."
But I was directed to the rhema scripture this morning; here is what I hear Jesus saying to me in John 15:

"Remain in Me, with Me, and near Me, even moreso during seasons of pruning and testing. Your testing produces your testimony which is vital for you and the other saints for overcoming. You are already clean-so don't let the enemy tell you that you are filthy or worthless. Your fruitfulness is not of your own doing, and is empowered only by your faith, and faithfulness in Me alone, not in yourself. Beloved, remember Me and My word when you are in a valley of decision or season of pruning- greater fruitfulness is coming!!"