A friend of mine dropped off a prayer of thankfulness last week. Little did I know that later that day we would be confronted with a “family crisis”.
Our daughter, Tonya, called to tell us to pray for her husband, who had just fallen off a ladder and they were taking him to the ER. Some of our family had already arrived for the holidays, so we joined together in prayer.
Just last week I read a statement by Oswald Chambers that jumped off of the page to me: “WE LOSE POWER OF WE DON’T CONCENTRATE ON THE RIGHT THING”. After prayer I went into my very “human nature”, by becoming very weak in Body, Soul and Spirit. I lost all energy and felt helpless. My husband, Lee and I went off by ourselves to pray and encourage each other in the faith. Within the hour we got word that our son-in-law had facial wounds and two broken wrists.
We began to thank God for these wounds because this accident could have been so much worse. We have no strength or power in times of helplessness, our strength comes from the Lord. When we try to carry and control it, our energy drains quickly.
Each one of us are facing or will be facing circumstances that will drain our faith and trust unless we go to the Source of our Power. May the words of this prayer encourage each one of you today.

BE THANKFUL

BE THANKFUL THAT YOU DON’T ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING YOU DESIRE.
IF YOU DID, WHAT WOULD THERE BE TO LOOK FORWARD TO?
BE THANKFUL WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW SOMETHING,
FOR IT GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN.

BE THANKFUL FOR THE DIFFICULT TIMES. DURING THOSE TIMES YOU GROW.
BE THANKFUL FOR YOUR LIMITATIONS,
BECAUSE THEY GIVE YOU OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT.
BE THANKFUL FOR EACH NEW CHALLENGE,
BECAUSE IT MEANS YOU’VE MADE A DIFFERENCE.

IT’S EASY TO BE THANKFUL FOR THE GOOD THINGS,
A LIFE OF RICH FULFILLMENT COMES TO THOSE WHO
ARE ALSO THANKFUL FOR THE SETBACKS.
GRATITUDE CAN TURN A NEGATIVE INTO A POSITIVE.
FIND A WAY TO BE THANKFUL FOR YOUR TROUBLES,
AND THEY CAN BECOME YOUR BLESSINGS.