Promise for Today - Black Friday Guarantee

It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NLT (New Living Translation)

Shopping in today's world is nothing like it used to be. Once upon a time, you could walk into a merchant’s facility and plop some money on the counter to buy an appliance or other high-dollar item for so much down and so much a month and expect to live happily ever after. Well, not forever, but you could expect the item to last 15 or 20 years. Nowadays, no matter where or what you purchase, or how you purchase - installment or no installment - you’re offered the opportunity to buy an extended warranty with each purchase. Of course, it’s only good for 2 years or 50,000 miles/hours whatever and whichever comes first. You may even be offered the opportunity to purchase an insurance policy on your installment payment and/or balance, in case something bad happens to you.

Despite what the salesperson has to say, I do not see how this is supposed to inspire any kind of confidence in the product or the workmanship that went into it. The only thing it seems to guarantee is that it WILL break down, or if it doesn’t, it probably will after the “free” annual maintenance check-up – you know, the “free” one that comes with your PAID warranty. Well, let me get to the good news.

Yes, there is always good news when it comes to God. In Scripture, we learn that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. And the guarantee to fix anything that may break along the way has already been paid for by the Maker on the original Black Friday at Calvary. Not only that, but there are no exceptions, nothing hidden, no black-out dates, no "gotcha" clauses.

Wait! There's more! It’s not a 90-day warranty or 5-year extended warranty – it’s a lifetime guarantee. All we have to do is say 'Yes' to God's offer of salvation and eternal life with Him. That’s included, too. Already paid for by His Son, Jesus. Guaranteed. Same-day delivery. No standing in line. No waiting.

And don’t worry, "He has identified us as His own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything He has promised us." It's a lifetime guarantee that extends to eternity.

Prayer:

Father,
           There is nothing offered here that even remotely compares to what You offer us on a daily basis - that Your Son already paid the price for us to have on the original Black Friday. Open our eyes to see You, Lord, and to recognize the magnitude of the provision You have made for us. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

A Prayer for Thanksgiving DAY

A Prayer for Thanksgiving Day by Debbie McDaniel

“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness, come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God, it is he who made us, and we are his, we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise, give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good; his love endures forever, his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100:1-5

All across our nation, Thanksgiving is a day that we set aside in order to do one thing. Be thankful. And usually what goes along with it, is lots of food, family and friends, laughter and fun, times of giving to others in need, maybe some football, or traditions that you’ve recognized through long years. And sometimes too, there is also loneliness. And struggle. Or deep loss. Feelings of hurt and painful circumstances that you’re still trying to hurdle over.

Whatever you’re facing this Thanksgiving Day, in the midst of all of it, may we remember again that God gives us the opportunity each and every day to give worship and thanks to Him. Every morning He gives us breath, is His invitation to come joyfully into His Presence. He reminds us that He alone is God and we belong to Him. He assures us that His plans in our lives are for good, that His love covers us securely, and His faithfulness extends from generation to generation.

No matter what, He’s given us so many reasons to choose thankfulness and joy this day. Let’s do what the Psalmist of this great chapter says:

- Shout for joy.
- Worship the Lord with gladness.
- Come before Him with joyful songs.
- Know that He is God.
- Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.
- Give thanks to Him and praise His name.
- Recognize His goodness, love, and faithfulness, through all the generations of our family.

Dear God,
                Thank You for Your goodness and for Your blessings over our lives. Forgive us when we don't thank You enough, for who You are, for all that You do, for all that You've given. We’re so grateful to You for Your amazing love and care, for Your mercy and grace, for always working on our behalf, even behind the scenes when we’re unaware. Thank You that You are always with us and will never leave us, even through loss and the most difficult of times. Thank You for Your incredible sacrifice so that we might have freedom and life. Help us to set our eyes and our hearts on You afresh. Renew our spirits, fill us with Your peace and joy, this Thanksgiving Day and every day. We give You thanks and praise, for You alone are worthy! In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Promise for Today - Part Two - Powerful Way to Live Free

NOTE: For the rest of November, I will share Thanksgiving moments written by other authors.
Today's devotional was written by Debbie McDaniel.
*********************************************************************

The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him.” 

Psalm 28:7

We have so much to be grateful for in this life, every single day. But reality is that sometimes constant life demands, battles, and worries give more room to defeat than to a heart of thanks. Or we forget, in the midst of busyness and pressures, just to pause and give thanks for all that God has done and continues to do in our lives.

Sometimes it really is a sacrifice to offer praise and thanks. We may not feel like it. We’re struggling. We’re weary. Or maybe, we feel like He let us down. We think God seems distant, like He’s far away, or doesn’t really care about what’s troubling us. Painful life blows and losses might have recently sent us spiraling.

But here’s what can make a lasting difference. We have a choice, every day, to give Him thanks. And with a heart of thanksgiving, we realize that no matter what we face, God doesn’t just work to change our situations and help us through our problems. He does more. He changes our hearts. Through our hearts of gratitude and focused minds on Him, His power releases the grip our struggles have over us. We’re strengthened by His peace, refueled by His joy.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Maybe you’re in a hard place right now. Maybe you feel like God has left you on your own to fend for yourself, or the battle seems too hard. Maybe there’s never enough money left at the end of the month, and you can’t figure out how to make things work. No matter what, in it all, be assured that God is with you and He cares. Choose a heart of gratefulness today. Make a list of all that God has blessed and filled your life with, that it’s been easy to take for granted at times. Trust He knows what concerns you and is at work even now, to bring you through this uncertain season. This Thanksgiving, thank God for providing all you need.

******************************************

Prayer:

Father, 

          We are humbled and so grateful for all You have done, all You are doing, and all You will do as we follow You. We choose to build and strengthen a heart of gratitude; to speak Your Word over every situation rather than to nurse and rehearse the challenges we face daily. Thank You for being the only Firm Foundation that helps us to withstand all the storms of life. We give You all glory and praise, in Jesus' Name. Amen

Promise for Today - Being Thankful is a Powerful Way to Live Free

NOTE: For the rest of November, I will share Thanksgiving moments written by other authors.
Today's devotional was written by Debbie McDaniel.
*********************************************************************
The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him.

Psalm 28:7

No matter what our current situation or the struggles we may be facing, here’s what choosing to be thankful does:

• It gets our eyes off ourselves and helps us to focus back on God.
• It reminds us we’re not in control, but that we serve a Mighty God who is. It keeps us in a place of humility and dependency on Him, as we recognize how much we need Him.
• It helps us to recognize we have so much to be thankful for, even all the little things, which often we may forget to thank Him for. It takes our attention off our problems and helps us instead to reflect on the goodness of His many blessings.
• It reminds us that God is the Giver of all good gifts. We were never intended to be fully self-sufficient in this life. A grateful heart reminds us that ultimately God is our Provider, that all blessings and gifts are graciously given to us by His hand.
• A heart of gratitude leaves no room for complaining. For it is impossible to be truly thankful and filled with negativity and ungratefulness at the same time.
• It makes the enemy flee. The forces of darkness can’t stand to be around hearts that give thanks and honor to God. Our praise and thanksgiving will make them flee.
• It opens the door for continued blessings. It invites His presence. God loves to give good gifts to His children. He delights in our thankfulness and pours out His Spirit and favor over those who give honor and gratitude to Him.

**************************

Prayer:

Father, 

          With glad hearts, we give You praise. With sad hearts, we give You praise. With our whole heart, we give You praise and thanksgiving, for You alone are worthy of it all. Keep us ever mindful that every good and perfect gift comes from You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - The Sacrifice of Thanks-Sharing

NOTE: For the rest of November, I will share Thanksgiving moments written by other authors.
Today's devotional was written by Glynnis Whitwer.
*********************************************************************

"Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." 

Hebrews 13:15-16 (NASB)

Enough. That's what I have. Really, more than enough.

More than enough clothes in my closet. Food in my fridge. Shoes spread on the floor. Cans in the cupboard. My children have books, warm jackets, tennis shoes, pencils, and opportunities for more. I have clean sheets, soft pillows, a kitchen table, and indoor plumbing.

My husband and I have never taken our provisions for granted. Every day, we are thankful for the blessings of our home and family. Yet eight years ago, we were increasingly aware of what Luke 12:48b tells us, "When someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required." (NLT) We felt an obligation to do something more with our blessings.

So in 2005, our family of five put a plan in place to share what we had. We had enough home, enough time, and enough love. Our gratitude to God for His blessings couldn't be kept to ourselves anymore. We started with some rearranging. Two of our three sons moved furniture around so they could share a room. Then we bought two little white beds, pink curtains, and some dolls. I bought matching calico comforters and guessed at the sizes of dresses.

After months of planning to share what we had, two little orphaned sisters stepped off a plane, gripping the hands of their new daddy, and walked into our hearts and homes.

They wore "African suits" bought from the place of their birth, brightly colored dresses that hung on tiny bodies. So proud they were to own their first new pieces of clothing, wanting to greet their new family in their best. As we wrapped our arms around these little girls, our family of five became seven.

As weeks turned into months, and typical family issues mingled with trauma from our daughters' pasts, we learned God's call to share isn't always easy. Oh, at first it was great, before the first blush of excitement wore off. But the magnitude of sharing our lives with two wounded little girls was harder than we ever imagined.

When worry about the future threatened to overwhelm me, God quietly reminded me that He didn't ask me to have the answers. That's His job. My job is just to share what He has given me–my love, my home, my life–with two not-so-little girls now who call me Mama. With a heart of thankfulness and an open hand of generosity. That's all He's asking me. That's what blesses Him.

God's Word confirms what pleases Him. Hebrews 13:15-16 teaches us that we must link thanksgiving with sharing. But it also says it will be a sacrifice: "Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." (NASB)

As we walk together as a family, we continue to learn that showing thanks to God involves sharing, and sharing involves sacrifice. God still calls us to share out of our abundance, and it still involves sacrifice. But when we share our lives, our homes, our money, our hearts, our skills, and our time as an outpouring of thanksgiving, God is pleased.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, 

                           Thank You for Your generosity with us. We don't deserve Your favor, and our hearts overflow with thanksgiving. Help us to show our gratitude through words and actions that are pleasing in Your sight. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Promise for Today - A Story of Persistence (for 11/23)

NOTE: For the rest of November, I will share Thanksgiving moments written by other authors.
Today's devotional was written by Kelly McFadden
*********************************************************************

Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 3:12-14

Here is a part of the Thanksgiving story you may not know. While the first Thanksgiving was celebrated in October of 1621, it was not until October of 1777 that all 13 colonies celebrated Thanksgiving for the first time. At one point, our first president, George Washington, proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving, but conflict and difficulties among the colonies put an end to its observance.

It was a magazine editor, Sarah Josepha Hale, whose work led to the celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday we observe today. Hale wrote letters to governors and presidents, and editorials in magazines, books and newspapers, promoting the observance of Thanksgiving. In 1863, after 40 years of letter writing and campaigning (that’s not a typo, she really wrote letters for 40 years), Hale’s persistence paid off and President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving. Since then, every president has supported Thanksgiving. Forty years of dedication, persistence and passion, all to make sure that this country would celebrate a National Day of Thanksgiving each year. Impressive.

We can learn from Hale’s perseverance. It took her 40 years to accomplish what she set out to do. Just like her story, the Christian faith is often described as a marathon, not a sprint. Each day of our life is another day to choose between right and wrong, to help someone in need, to read our Bible and pray. As Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:12-14, Christians are called to persevere, to press on. Sometimes it can feel like an unrewarding task. It is hard, but important, to look to God for the BIGGER plan. What if Hale had chosen to give up after one year or ten years? Her goal would have been left unfinished. Press on towards the call of Christ! Endure! But be forewarned, just like Sara Josepha Hale, it may take 40 years to see the fruit of your labor!
******************************

Prayer:

Father,

           Your love for us is the most exquisite illustration of perseverance. Since the beginning of our time on Earth, mankind has repeatedly rebelled and chosen to go its own way; yet You love us so much that You prepared the Way for us to be forgiven and restored to a right relationship with You. We can never thank You enough for the sacrificial love of Jesus. And it's in His Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - When Do You Thank God?

NOTE: For the rest of November, I will share Thanksgiving moments written by other authors.
Today's devotional was written by Anne Peterson.
*********************************************************************

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

God tells us godliness with contentment is great gain, but being content is not always easy to do (1 Timothy 6:6). It’s often difficult because we’re looking around at others, wondering if what we have compares with what they have.

Paul said he learned how to be content in whatever state he found himself (Philippians 4:11). Paul didn’t just talk about it; he showed us. There he was in prison, all shackled up, and what was he doing? Having a pity party? No, he was singing praises to God. Too often we choose to praise God after He has answered our prayers. And while there’s nothing wrong with thanking God for answered prayer, we miss out if that’s the only time we praise Him with thanksgiving. God is good. It’s impossible for God to be anything less than good. It’s His character.

I often think of when Jesus visited Mary and Martha after their brother, Lazarus, died. Even though Jesus went there after Lazarus was already dead, He still had a plan.

So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” - John 11:41-42

I always found it interesting that Jesus thanked God for hearing His prayer before Lazarus took one step. Years ago, I made a mental note of that. God is worthy of praise. We don’t have to wait to see if God delivers on something we ask Him before we thank Him. And if God chooses to say, “No,” that doesn’t mean God is less worthy of our praise.

God’s Word tells us it’s impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6). When we choose to be thankful and praise God at all times, we are exercising faith. We are praising God because we know God is capable of doing everything we ask and then so much more. When we thank God, we are pleasing our heavenly Father.

God is worthy of praise just because He’s God. It pleases God when we praise Him ahead of time because we’re saying, 'God, whether or not You choose to answer my prayers, I praise You for who You are. I thank You for all You’ve given me. And Lord, even when You choose to say “no” to my requests, I know You have Your reasons. You know the beginning from the end. Your thoughts are much higher than my thoughts and Your ways are higher too (Isaiah 55:8-9). And Lord, if you withhold something I’m asking You for, then maybe the thing is not good for me, or the timing is not right. I know it’s not good because You’ve said You will not withhold any good thing from me (Psalm 84:11). God, I trust You.

We can choose to be thankful in all things. Simply because God is all-wise and He allows what He does with His wisdom. And when things look like they will never work out, those impossible times are God’s specialty. The things that are impossible with man are possible with God (Luke 18:27). I love it when God does what seems impossible, because there’s no question at all who did it. And when we get discouraged because of our circumstances, God promises that in all things He can work for the good, for us (Romans 8:28).

We can rejoice always because we know the Almighty God, the everlasting Father. We can pray because He invites us to bring our cares to Him, because He cares for us (1Peter 5:7). And we can give thanks in all circumstances because it is God’s will. We also know none of God’s plans can be thwarted (Job 42:2). I’m pretty certain that when Paul sang to the Lord from behind bars, it was one of the most beautiful praises ever heard. And we can do the same.

*******************

Prayer:

Father,

           Give us eyes to see and a heart to always recognize and know Your faithfulness and goodness toward us. Whether Your answer is 'yes' or 'no' - we love You. We trust You. We choose You and will follow You all the days of our lives. Amen.