Dear COA Family,
As we embark on a new year, it is important to develop a heart of thanksgiving. The apostle Paul writes, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess 5:18).
And this is Part 2 of my three-part devotion on how we can grow in thanksgiving.
Just some context on this series – I have been convinced by the Lord that we need to thank God especially in the areas that we have taken for granted. This is because we can be such forgetful and unthankful people of the myriad blessings of God in our lives. There is therefore a need to be intentionally thankful.
Giving Thanks for Physical Health and the Use of Our Bodily Functions
It is funny how we realise how important a certain body function is only when we lose the use of them or when they become impaired.
Recently, I visited a member in hospital and was praying for God’s healing on her as she had a blocked intestine. Food and fluids that were ingested would get clogged up in her intestine much like how dirt and grime would choke up a water pipe. We prayed for the Lord to clear the blockage. God was merciful and granted daily miracles. We were celebrating the little breakthroughs in her ability to pass motion or even fart daily. This reminded me that we ought not take for granted that the Lord has blessed us with bodily functions for our benefit.
This is also why when I visit new homes to pray for house blessings, I would also spend some time praying for the toilets – that our bodies may be refreshed in the toilets and that urinary or bowel movements would be smooth. They may sound unpleasant but God’s blessings of us being able to pass our waste out of our body should never be taken for granted!
Extrapolating this, we find that we have numerous things to thank God for – our eyesight, ability to walk, ability to communicate and so on. The list is endless.
So, what are you thankful for today that you may have taken for granted in the past? May the Holy Spirit remind you and help you cultivate a heart of thanksgiving in the coming week.
God bless,
Revd Ian