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A Heart of Thanksgiving

Posted by Derrick Liu on

Let us come before Him with thanksgiving. Psalm 95:2

The anger and violence that has embroiled Hong Kong in recent months compounded with the typical challenges of everyday life can be overwhelming and easily cause us (or at least me) to put too much emphasis on the temporal rather than the eternal. But having just celebrated Island ECC’s 20th anniversary and with American Thanksgiving coming up later this month, I am reminded of God’s sovereignty and faithfulness and how He is Lord over all things (including, and perhaps especially, during the difficult times and seasons in life).

He is the God who fights for me (Exodus 14:14).

He is the God who comforts me when I am discouraged (Psalm 94:19; 2 Corinthians 7:6).

He is the God of details who knows and cares for me intimately, even down to the numbers of hairs on my head (Luke 12:7). 

As I reflect and meditate on those and other characteristics of God, the worries and pressures of life decrease and my ability to worship and appreciate the Lord increase. It is a simple discipline and one that I need to practice regularly in order for my mind and soul to remember that God is in control despite the seeming chaos that may be swirling around me. I take solace and am thankful that His ways are higher than my ways and His thoughts are higher than my thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). 

Let us practice a heart of thanksgiving by:

  • Praising God that He is sovereign, always working things out for our good; and,
  • Asking God to help us desire to know Him daily.

 

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