Why is it that asking comes so much more easily to our lips than thanking? I am often ashamed when I realize that a prayer has been heard, an intercession granted, and I did not immediately stop to express my gratitude to God. This lack of gratitude is itself a kind of faithlessness.
In today’s Gospel, Luke tells us about the ten lepers healed by Jesus. Jesus did not heal them immediately but instructed them to go show themselves to the priests as required by the law. On their way, they realized they were healed, but only one, a Samaritan, returned to give thanks. Jesus understood that the Samaritan’s gratitude was itself an act of faith.
Prayers of praise (glorifying God) and gratitude can come more slowly than prayers of petition. Today, what is it that we should give thanks to the Lord for?
Dear Lord Jesus, praying a prayer of deep thanksgiving for your intercession in the life of my grandson. He’s a beautiful young man and just happens to be a high functioning Autistic boy. He’s always had trouble with going to school, no matter what cajoling, counseling, anger in the house, the list goes on. He just called me and I’ve never heard him so excited about going to school. Taking one day at a time and also praying for my son and daughter in law so they won’t grow weary and give in to him. Thank you, Lord Jesus and Dear Blessed Mother for prayers answered.
Peggy-what great news. Thank you for sharing that!
Wonderful about your grandson! Glory to God!
Many are grateful for their health and I encourage you to always thank God for the parts of your body that work well. But I also encourage those that deal with physical and mental issues everyday of our lives. Living part time in a wheelchair, unable to lift my arms above chest level, unable to stand for very long, needing a ventilator to breath at night and just recently beginning daytime ventilation, blind in one eye and dealing with the pain and slow loss of sight in the other, whew there are so many parts I grumble to God about each day. I use my humor to try to deal with it all (as in God needs a better quality control department and I’m gonna volunteer when I get to heaven). Besides the actual physical issues, my family and I deal with the financial hardships this all brings, the red tape of insurance or no insurance, and the sometimes daft service from the health care system including lack of medications available, poor equipment and long wait times for doctors and procedures. I say all this because if you are one of these people out there I want you to know you are not alone. More so I want to encourage you to still be thankful!!! I would be a prideful, career based individual had I not had the crush of muscular dystrophy and God knew it! He knew I had to be brought low to lean on Him and find my way. He consoles me with the people in my life whom I never would have known if not for my condition. I am thankful that they have been a guiding, uplifting force to me but also that I, in turn, have passed on the tremendous blessing of Christ to them in my faith sharing contact. From the hospital housekeeper to the respiratory therapist who comes to my home, to my gal bible study and prayer group at church, it is a blessing that in suffering there is purpose. Be thankful for all the wonderful things, but be thankful too for those things we view as our cross and thorns—just look what they did for so many 2000+ years ago!
Dear Vicky, So much of what you posted this morning resonated with me. As caregiver for my wife, who is in a wheelchair from her stroke 10 years ago, we have experienced many of the things that you mentioned. Thankfully she doesn’t have the respiratory issues that you deal with on a daily basis. My goodness, I can only imagine the suffering you have endured from MD. But the one thing you did also say that I try to focus on is that there must be some good that will come from this trial. This is true faith and it’s a blessing to be able to see this. May God Bless you and keep you, and keep on fighting the good battle!!
Well.....so much for my little aches & pains, Vicky! We are inspired by your story and I pray with the rest of the LF family for what you bring to those you meet. You are always in my evening rosary.
Vicki G, What strong faith you have. It is so meaningful when you share your journey with us and still maintain your awesome sense of humor. Sending you patience and strength and courage for your continued journey today. Blessings to you and your family.
Vicky G. what heart you have! And you are ALWAYS so willing and open in sharing it with us...thank you. Please know you have been a catalyst in my life with the chapters of your life. As I grow older, I am almost halfway through the point where I have been grateful for more years than not. There's true meaning in "Sometimes God puts you on your back ~ to look up"! I always say, cancer was the best thing that ever happened to me. Although also quick to say, I would never wish it on anyone. There's a very humbling realization of deep gratitude that accompanies each good health report after an initial frightening diagnosis. Thank you, Vicky G., I just love it when you post a comment! God Bless Us All And All Who We Love. So VERY Thankful for our Living Faith Family...Thank You Dear Lord!!!
Vicky thank you for your comments iwill pray for you during my Feedmore run. You are a inspiration to us. Ke
Dear Vicky, thank you for your testimony of the incapacitating disease of MD and for your inner strength to describe how it affects almost every movement in our bodies. May Our Lord continue to be a source of inspiration and hope to you and please know that all of us in the LFF are with you in heart and spirit. Your humor is contagious and it lightens the feelings of all those who are fortunate enough to care for you. God bless you and keep you, Dear Lady ❤️
Amen...thank you Greg and all my LFF...Vicky G...thank you for sharing your many issues with us and encouraging us to be thankful for our working body parts...I will pray very hard for you to be healed and be comfortable...you are always such a good sport and inspire us in so many ways with your words...I know you experience the love of Christ everyday
Thank you for your testimony Vickie! Amen!
Thank you Greg for that reminder to always thank God for our blessings. Every morning I thank God for seeing me safely through the night, for the very gift of life, for my family, my good health, my faith, my friends and the many other blessings that I enjoy. I pray for Wisdom to guide me through the day, for the Spirit to protect me and use me as God’s ambassador to bring the kindness, generosity, and peace of the Lord to all who I come in contact with that day. I also pray for my country and its leaders and peace for all in this troubled world. Each day brings more to be thankful for and more reasons to praise God.
Excellent question, "Today, what is it that we should give thanks to the Lord for?" *** In all circumstances: good, bad and ugly in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, "Give thanks no matter what happens. God wants you to thank Him because you believe in Christ Jesus!" *** My gratitude determines my attitude, my attitude determines my altitude! *** How do I give thaks no matter what in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17, "Always be joyful. Never stop praying!" ******* Philippians 4:4-7, "Always be joyful because you belong to the Lord. I will say it again. Be joyful! Let everyone know how gentle you are. The Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything. No matter what happens, tell God about everything. Ask and pray, and give thanks to Him. Then God’s peace will watch over your hearts and your minds. He will do this because you belong to Christ Jesus. God’s peace can never be completely understood!" *** His peace trumps having my prayer answered my way.......John 14:27, "I leave My peace with you. I give My peace to you. I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be troubled. And do not be afraid!" Amen!!!
Jesus does not need my thanks, my gratitude, my praise. as others do.. Yes,, but I need to work on my humility.
What a timely devotion! I received a call from my sister last night. She has gone through 3 rounds of chemo and had her PET scan yesterday. There is nothing abnormal on her scan with no signs of Lymphoma!!! God is so good. Thank you Lord, and thank all of you for praying for Barb. She has 3 more rounds of chemo before the end of the year. Continue to pray for her as she is having a more difficult time tolerating each round.
Beth, this is great news. So happy for your sister and continuing to lift her. May Barb find the courage and strength to continue on her journey. May God look after her and comfort her when she is struggling post-treatment. Amen.
Praise God for All the Blessings and for keeping her in His Care!
Beautiful reflection Greg! I am so very thankful for the many gifts God has given me and I would put my health at the top of the list. May I never take for granted that I have ease of movement, see and hear well and don’t have any medical conditions. Thank you Lord for blessing me on this day with such bounty. Praying for Cass and Nancy as she makes her journey through chemo. Amen.
Lord, please watch over and protect the hospitals and the humanitarian corridors being established in Gaza. Hear our continued prayers for those in the Middle East, Ukraine, Russia, the Sudan, and all those suffering around the world - also for their strength, courage and resilience to continue walking in faith. Father in Heaven, have mercy on us and on the whole world! You sent Your Son, the Prince of Peace, for the salvation of the world. We pray that the Peace of Christ will reign in the Middle East, Ukraine, Russia and Sudan. Please protect and send aid to those in need and all who are at-risk. We pray for peace and rebuilding– we who are working towards it and for all those who are suffering or in danger from conflicts. We pray for an end to violence and war – we pray for wisdom for all leaders who have a hand in this. Lord God please help those in most need of thy mercy. Amen.
Amen.
Thank You Jesus Christ for everything good that happened and will happen in my life ????????
My wife made it a custom to thank God at the end of the day from all of us. I am thankful for her idea. We pray together and mention 5 things for that day.
My Grandson Sammy keeps a " Gratitude Journal", into which he writes 3 things every night for which he is grateful that day. God Bless us Everyone!
Nice idea Troy! We learned in my Cursillo group to name 5 things that brought us closer to God and five that made us feel furthest away from God during the previous week. That way we could all reflect on choosing the right path for the next week.
I woke up...and was able to read and understand this devotion. Thank You Jesus for that, and all the blessings in my life !
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thank You Father in Heaven for healing me and showing me a way to a life with You by my side. I am nothing but darkness without You and Your love. I love You I love You I love You