Monday, November 23

Read: Luke 17:11-19

Consider: We find ourselves days away from Thanksgiving. Many people in our country will take a few moments this Thursday to consider the good things God has given us. And then? Boom! Friday morning they’ll jump into a season that is full of promise but delivers mixed results. Wouldn’t it be tragic if all we did this week was take a few moments to voice words of thanksgiving and then go on with our lives unchanged? On the other hand, wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could allow the Holy Spirit this week to orient our minds toward gratitude in a manner that would be life-changing?

Jesus healed ten men who suffered with leprosy. In their culture their disease removed them from their families, their jobs, their friends and their community. They were outcasts who were required to keep a good distance between themselves and others (17:12). People feared them and loathed the sight of them. But Jesus handed their lives back to them. “Go, show yourselves to the priests” he told them. The priests would verify that they had been “cleansed” (17:14) and they would be able to return to the joys of life in community with family and friends.

There is a haunting question that Jesus asked when the Samaritan man returned to thank Jesus for his healing.

“Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?” (17:17)

I saw myself in this story. Every day when I drop my daughter off at middle school I pray for her safety. And every day God answers my prayer. But I realized that when I picked her up at the end of the day I wasn’t thanking God. I asked. He answered. I went on my way. Maybe that doesn’t seem like a big deal to us. But it must have been important to Jesus or he wouldn’t have asked the question.

My child’s health is more precious to me than my own. God has been so gracious to me in watching over my child. So I made a decision. The prayer of thanksgiving is just as important as the prayer on behalf of my daughter. And returning to express thanks to Jesus helps me walk closer to him and love him more. 

Pray: Can you think of any answers to prayer—big or small—that you have received, but for which you have forgotten to thank him? Take some time today to talk to him and gratefully reminisce about the good things he has given.

Tuesday, November 24

Read: 1 Timothy 6:6-8

Consider: There is a crazy irony that takes place as we prosper financially. It seems that the more we have, the less grateful we are for what we have. I remember a time when I was in college and totally out of money. I wasn’t in danger of starving. My tuition and my room and board had been paid. So I had a place to sleep and food to eat. But I was out of soap—one of the little necessities of life—and didn’t have any money at all (and was feeling rather sorry for myself). That day I received a check in the mail from my grandmother. I remember being so thrilled to go and buy soap. I remember praising God for it. The strange thing is that I’ve never been that broke since then, and I don’t think I’ve ever again praised God for soap. I just take it for granted.

Paul said to Timothy,

“…godliness with contentment is great gain…if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” (6:6, 8)

There is power, simplicity and beauty in those words. There is “great gain” in the right perspective. It’s not the kind of gain that most people strive for—it is much greater. Paul is talking about peace and power that we can have even if we possess only the very basics for life.

I believe that this beautiful perspective is only possible for those who develop a spirit of gratitude. Perhaps if I learned again to thank God for soap, I would experience the sense of “contentment” that Paul taught Timothy.

Pray: As you thank the Lord for the big and the small things he has given you, see what happens to your level of contentment.

Wednesday, November 25

Read: Proverbs 30:8-9

Consider: Part of that prayer comes naturally for us—“don’t give me poverty.” The other part is probably something we’ve never asked of God—“don’t give me riches.” We’re not commanded to pray that way. This passage simply shows us the thoughts of a wise man who is trying to guard his heart.

“…give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you…” (30:9)

He is afraid that he may grow to love and depend on things too much rather than seeing God as his source and his security.

Gratitude helps to guard our hearts. Even when we have riches (and compared to our brothers and sisters in third world, we are affluent) we can remind ourselves where those blessings come from. Every time we say “thank you” to God we help ourselves shore up a proper perspective on life. As long as my heart is filled with gratitude and thanksgiving, I’ll never “disown” my Lord.

Pray: As you thank God today, ask him to help you maintain the perspective that gratitude brings. Ask him to help you make praise and gratitude part of every moment of your life.

Thursday, November 26 — Thanksgiving

Read: Philippians 4:4-7

Consider: Happy Thanksgiving!

Steve and Casey Cretsinger are friends from our church who are missionaries in Africa. In one of Casey’s e-mail updates she shared that they were able to take a few days away from their village. She mentioned how good it was to have a warm shower at the place they were staying. That really hit me. My life is full of small blessings that I take for granted. I’m trying to learn to be grateful and thank God for everything because “every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights” (James 1:17). So now when I take a shower, I thank God for a warm shower (and if we run out of hot water I don’t complain).

Why not take this special day to have an ongoing conversation with God. Even when you’re talking to someone else, eating turkey or watching the Lions lose; keep a part of your mind on God with a sense of gratitude. Throughout the day whisper prayers of thanks to him. Paul says that this contributes to the contentment and peace that God has for us.

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! …in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4, 6-7)

Pray: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” (1 Chronicles 16:34)

Friday, November 27

Read: Isaiah 9:1-7

Consider: Black Friday. That’s what most people are thinking about today. The lead story on the news tonight will be how big (or small) the crowds were in the shopping malls compared to other years. Our culture hits the Christmas season today thinking in terms that really don’t have much to do with Christmas.

Now it’s okay to go shopping today. It’s fine to look for good deals to give gifts to people you love. Enjoy it! But we need to make sure that we start this season off by centering our minds on what will bring us real peace and real joy.

The day after tomorrow is the First Sunday of Advent. Christians around the world will begin four weeks of celebrating the advent—the coming—of Jesus the Messiah. The first Sunday we’ll look at the promise of his coming. Even though Isaiah was prophesying about it centuries in advance, he used the present tense to describe this promise…

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light… For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:2, 6)

The promise of peace. The promise of God’s presence with us. What a perfect reason to continue to live a life of thanksgiving!

Pray: Praise the Lord for the promise of the coming of Jesus Christ. Ask the Lord to help you prepare your heart for this season. Tell him that you do not want to miss anything that he has for you during the Season of Advent.

Saturday, November 28

Read: Luke 1:1-17 and 1:26-38

Consider: As we saw yesterday, the Christmas story begins with promises. The people of Israel heard those promises from Isaiah and other prophets. Zechariah and Mary heard them from angels. But there is a huge interval of time between the words of Isaiah and the words of Gabriel—so much time that some people thought God had forgotten his promises.

The New Testament speaks about two different types of time. There is chronological time (time in the manner that we think of it) and there is appointed time. You’ve often heard it said that God’s timing is different than ours. That’s true. We think chronologically. God’s timing has to do with his will and purpose. So…

“…when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman…” (Galatians 4:4).

The Christmas season is a good time for us to consider God’s promises and purposes—and his timing. Just as Christ’s coming required patience and submission on the part of those who longed for him, his will for us today requires our patience and submission. We need to reflect on Mary’s words and make them our own…

“I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:38)

Pray: Are there any promises from God that you are still waiting to see fulfilled? Ask him to help you go beyond chronological time and to help you trust his appointed time.

Sunday, November 29, is the First Sunday of Advent.

For small group discussion questions click here.