A note from Shelly ... If you read, grasp AND apply the truth in this Blog your life will be FOREVER CHANGED. Karen, shares from the depth of her heart and experience. Praying this speaks exactly to where you are today ...
I went to make my coffee this morning. My “half opened eyed, not ready for the world” self, reached for my Almond Joy coffee creamer. As I pulled it out of my fridge, the container seemed too light. It was empty! Someone had been taking my Almond Joy creamer for their own pleasures and returned the empty container to the fridge. I began to think of the many suspects that might be responsible. How dare they!
At that moment, I wasn’t feeling real happy and I didn’t want to throw up my hands and say “Oh God, thank you for not allowing there to be any almond joy creamer for me!” I wanted my coffee and I wanted it to be right. Now, that may seem like a small thing, but you all know what I’m talking about. Your day just doesn’t get started right without the perfect blend your palette craves! I wouldn’t say it put me in a bad mood, but I was not really joyful about it.
But, coffee is the least of my worries today. I have a crisis happening with a child that has become devastating to our family. We are walking with faith and strength from God, but I can’t say I’m at the point I’m thanking Him for this circumstance. I want to be there. I’m just not.
I know its Thanksgiving time and all, but my heart hurts. I want to cry. I want to scream. I do cry. I haven’t really screamed yet, so I might still give that a try. I know God hears me and I see Him working on the problem. I just feel my head has not caught up with my heart yet. My heart wants to thank Him, but I’m not really feeling spontaneous thanksgiving flowing from my spirit. Have you felt that way?
I’ll admit I’ve prayed thanks to Him for His answer, but I haven’t said thanks for having to make this awful journey. How do I get there? This is what I’ve been praying about today.
The answer is this...thankfulness is NOT about how you FEEL. It is a DECISION!
I DECIDE that I am going to honor His Word, follow it, and give Him THANKS for bringing the solution in His perfect timing. I speak out His praise! I worship Him! I express the desire of my heart and I say “THANK YOU, LORD” for what is now unseen but will be SEEN! Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
THANKFULNESS is not about emotion. It is about obedience and honor.
So this day, I can say, “Lord, my heart hurts, but I am thankful that you are my God and that You will meet my needs according to your riches and glory, not my own!”
If you are waiting on an answer and standing in faith that God is going to move, go ahead and give Him thanks by making the decision to do it and stop worrying about how you feel. His Word is true and He will not fail us! Let’s fool the enemy and thank Him IN SPITE of the circumstances. There is power in your thanksgiving! You can make the decision to be thankful today and it will have nothing to do with how you feel, but how you BELIEVE!
Treasuring You in His Love,
Karen
I went to make my coffee this morning. My “half opened eyed, not ready for the world” self, reached for my Almond Joy coffee creamer. As I pulled it out of my fridge, the container seemed too light. It was empty! Someone had been taking my Almond Joy creamer for their own pleasures and returned the empty container to the fridge. I began to think of the many suspects that might be responsible. How dare they!
At that moment, I wasn’t feeling real happy and I didn’t want to throw up my hands and say “Oh God, thank you for not allowing there to be any almond joy creamer for me!” I wanted my coffee and I wanted it to be right. Now, that may seem like a small thing, but you all know what I’m talking about. Your day just doesn’t get started right without the perfect blend your palette craves! I wouldn’t say it put me in a bad mood, but I was not really joyful about it.
But, coffee is the least of my worries today. I have a crisis happening with a child that has become devastating to our family. We are walking with faith and strength from God, but I can’t say I’m at the point I’m thanking Him for this circumstance. I want to be there. I’m just not.
I know its Thanksgiving time and all, but my heart hurts. I want to cry. I want to scream. I do cry. I haven’t really screamed yet, so I might still give that a try. I know God hears me and I see Him working on the problem. I just feel my head has not caught up with my heart yet. My heart wants to thank Him, but I’m not really feeling spontaneous thanksgiving flowing from my spirit. Have you felt that way?
I’ll admit I’ve prayed thanks to Him for His answer, but I haven’t said thanks for having to make this awful journey. How do I get there? This is what I’ve been praying about today.
The answer is this...thankfulness is NOT about how you FEEL. It is a DECISION!
I DECIDE that I am going to honor His Word, follow it, and give Him THANKS for bringing the solution in His perfect timing. I speak out His praise! I worship Him! I express the desire of my heart and I say “THANK YOU, LORD” for what is now unseen but will be SEEN! Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
THANKFULNESS is not about emotion. It is about obedience and honor.
So this day, I can say, “Lord, my heart hurts, but I am thankful that you are my God and that You will meet my needs according to your riches and glory, not my own!”
If you are waiting on an answer and standing in faith that God is going to move, go ahead and give Him thanks by making the decision to do it and stop worrying about how you feel. His Word is true and He will not fail us! Let’s fool the enemy and thank Him IN SPITE of the circumstances. There is power in your thanksgiving! You can make the decision to be thankful today and it will have nothing to do with how you feel, but how you BELIEVE!
Treasuring You in His Love,
Karen
Karen is a Certified Life and Business Development Professional in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is known as The Treasured Life Coach, as she counsels and coaches women to build a life they will treasure and thrive in. Karen is also the founder of The Treasured Woman Network, a Christian ministry dedicated to teaching women self-worth through Christ and the truth of God’s Word. Married to Ross, she is the mother to five young adults. www.karenjantzi.com.