With Thanksgiving just behind us, I knew I wanted to share what ever God laid on my heart regarding thankfulness. Throughout the Bible we are encouraged to come to God with thanksgiving. To offer and surrender in thanksgiving. To sing with praise and thanksgiving. Psalm scriptures teaching us how to come in thanksgiving. In heaven there will be joy and praise and worship in thanksgiving. With all of this talk of being thankful, it must be pretty important, huh?

Each of us can reflect on our lives and there are certainly things that we would not be thankful for. Meaning, we would not be all in for having that come around again. Right? I know I have plenty. And there have been circumstances or people or a combination that have attempted to creep its way back into my thoughts or beliefs. I’m thankful that, with the help of God, we can all grow beyond circumstances, wounds, lies and strongholds that keep us from living in thanksgiving to God. I know I want to live a life that I can truly relate to thankfulness. I desire to live in the freedom that God says we, as Jesus followers, have. I crave growing beyond every single wound or lie and living in a constant state of becoming. Becoming who God designed me to be. Becoming one who can help others experience the love of God and live becoming.

Every single person who seeks God with their whole heart will find Him. It’s a promise. There are steps that we take to grow in Christ. We find a church that supports and teaches every word of the Bible. We study the Bible, evaluating ourselves – not by answering for ourselves only if we believe and live as thou we believe the scripture, but also by reserving quite time with God and asking Him, “do I believe and live as thou I trust this scripture” and waiting for God to place a thought or answer to us. A follow up question may be needed. Or confirming what you heard can be verified in scripture. Asking God all along the way to show us. Lead us. Reveal what is needed. Heal us. Help us BECOME.

I’m thankful we serve a God who knows our every day. Who knows our every wound. Who knows our deepest desires. Who knows our every pleasure. Who knows our truest intentions. Who wants to grow us to BECOME more in the image of Christ. Where would we be without that?

I am thankful for the hard dark seasons. Why? They grow us closer to God……if we allow Him. I am thankful to get to learn the impact of words. Why? Because I am more careful with my words, they matter. I am thankful to get to evaluate the emotions be it anger, bitterness, happiness, guilt, shame, unworthiness only to name some. Why? Because through transformational prayer, I have been able to hear from God on these “feelings”. His words healing and sealing my soul from past damage. I am thankful to look back and have been a part of ministry, why, because I am BECOMING. I am thankful to have found a small group of women years ago to study the Bible with. Why? Because I understand the Bible more. I live less in the fear and stress of this world and more in what I’m BECOMING. I am thankful God gave me the perseverance to remain patient through prayer when I was seeking to hear Him. Why? I can go to Him for answers and when He speaks, I have peace. I am thankful to be part of a prayer team. Why? It moves mountains right here on Earth, kingdom moving. I am thankful to have a prayer partner. Why. She, through prayers on my behalf, pulled me out of a hard shell. Opening my heart to be transparent with her. Why? She prays for me and my family. Moving mountains. Kingdom moving. God uses us as an instrument in each other’s lives. Keeping us in line with what we are BECOMING. I am thankful for a community who believe in the power of following Jesus.

I am thankful that we have a choice today. God receives us today. As we are. And by making the choice to receive Him as the Lord of our life, by believing Jesus is the Son of God by confessing our sins and walking away from what ever God asks us to, we have a life to look forward to beyond here. A life of eternity. Thank you ….

Lord God. I thank you that you love us. That there is a plan for each one of us. I thank you for your healing sanctification that transforms us from flesh to becoming. Lord each one of us has a next step that will move us into deeper thanksgiving to you. May we seek you and ask you. We look expectantly to what you answer. Help us to take the step. Teach us to have a relationship with you. Strengthen us to persevere that we will walk with you all of our days, becoming what you have planned for us. I ask this in Jesus name. Amen