Nancy Taylor Tate
“O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth” Isaiah 25:1.
As I was driving down the road recently, my car suddenly started to sputter. Surprised, I flexed the gas pedal, only to hear the engine die. Check engine lights came on as I realized my power steering was gone. Did I have brakes? What an intense moment!
Thankfully, I was in a righthand lane, near my exit. Thankfully too, I had already slowed down in preparation for exiting. And thankfully, my car came to a stop before the end of the ramp!
Cars lined up as I tried to motion them to go around me with one hand and call for help with the other. Some were yelling and blowing their horns. Several asked if I was okay or needed help. I was so thankful I had a cell phone, that I could dial 911 and our police would come and help until my car was safely towed away.
Later, I realized how much more serious that situation could have been. I could have been in a lane difficult to exit from or traveling much faster when my car suddenly lost power. A fresh awareness of the fragility of life flooded my heart as I thought, I am so thankful to be alive!
There have been traumatic situations for so many people this last year, I am sure many others feel the same way. It has been intense! But we made it through. For that we can be very thankful!
As we pause to give thanks to the Lord for the many things He has brought us through, may we also take encouragement regarding the future. God’s love for us is constant! He is always there for us to turn to.
“Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” Matthew 28:20.
May we thank the Lord for His faithfulness and for His intercession for you and for me.
“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them” Hebrews 7:25.
May we see Him in our testings and be thankful, as He allows us to be proven, “for our good.”
“And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee…to know what was in thine heart…that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end” Deuteronomy 8:2,16b.
How powerful the intercession of Christ for you and for me! How faithful His working within our lives! What wonderful promises we have!
As we set our gaze on Him, may He further reveal His love to us. May we rest in His love, knowing that He has a plan and a purpose for our lives. His purpose is unfolding! Nothing can thwart it.
It helps at times to “count our blessings.” I have a little encouragement folder I pull out at times. If someone says something kind to me, I save it! Then it is there for me on a day when it would be nice to hear some kind words again. I do the same if something good happens, or if there is something special I want to remember.
Thankfulness is a choice, a way of thinking we can cultivate within our lives. With the psalmist, may we make this declaration:
“I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth” Psalm 34:1.
As we choose to be thankful, may Thanksgiving flood our hearts! And may the Lord bless you, as never before!