What do you think of when the Thanksgiving holiday rolls around? Turkey and dressing, family gatherings, time off from work, deer hunting, vacations? That is usually what comes to my mind.
Recently I faced a potentially life-threatening situation. Prior to taking the deciding “test” to determine the outcome, I went to my Bible, shut my eyes, and flipped through the pages. I was in hopes God would give me some reassurance. When I opened my eyes, the first page I read went something like this: “I am a mighty God, and I will surely deliver those who love me in a mighty way…” That settled it for me. The Lord’s peace surrounded me, and I went the operating room with a sense of calm.
I repeated the verse as they wheeled me into the operating room. I told myself: “I love God, He is mighty, and He will surely deliver me in a mighty way”. Sure, enough I did just fine.
This Thanksgiving all I can think of is being thankful to God. Not just for delivering me from a life-threatening situation, but for everything He has done for me. First and foremost, for sending Jesus to reconcile me to Him forever through His grace, but also for allowing me to be an American. He has allowed me to live in a land that is free. Where there is respect for the dignity of people everywhere of every race and gender. I think Him for my wonderful family.
This Thanksgiving remember God. He is truly something for which to be thankful.
This reminds me of a story I heard. A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light, and the Savior appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. So, this the man did, day after day.
For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down; his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.
The man began showing signs of discouragement, and right on cue Satan decided to enter the picture by placing doubts in his mind. Thus, giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure, these thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man.
Then he decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to the Lord.
“Lord,” he said, “I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?
The Lord responded compassionately. “My friend, when I asked you to serve me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But is that really so? Look at yourself . . . Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown, your hands are callused from pressure, and your legs have become massive and hard.
Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you haven’t moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. This you have done. Now I, my friend, will move the rock.”
At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when what God wants is just simple obedience and faith in Him . . . By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who moves the mountains.
When everything seems to go wrong . . . just P.U.S.H.! When the job gets you down . . . just P.U.S.H.! When people don’t react the way you think they should . . . just P.U.S.H.! When your money looks “gone” and the bills are due . . . just P.U.S.H.! When people just don’t understand you . . . just P.U.S.H.!
P.U.S.H. – Pray Until Something Happens and then thank the Lord for all He does!
Phil. 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in
everything by prayer and supplication,
with thanksgiving, let your
requests be made known to God;
and the peace of God which surpasses
all understanding, will guard
your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus.