Daily Devotion For Wednesday, November 22, 2023

At our home we are very careful what TV shows and movies we watch. Emmie, our daughter, as a way of looking up on her cellphone why TV shows and movies are given the rating they are. For example, how many and which bad words are used; sexual content and etc. For some reason, it seems our culture is fascinated with zombie movies and zombie TV shows such, The Walking Dead.” I have never seen one and never will. 

Here is what I do know from my limited experience with zombies is that they are mindless dead creatures who seek to take the life of others. As I look at some Christians today, they are spiritual zombies. They just get up every day and simply go through the motions. They do not have any plans that day on how to bring glory to Jesus Christ nor share the Gospel. And they don’t really put their heart into anything other than just getting through the day.

Looking back over the last year since November 24, 2022 — last year’s Thanksgiving. Is there anything you would have done differently or change if you could? If you say, “Yes, then you are normal.” The sad thing is you can’t change the past. The past is over. The past is dead. There is nothing you can do today to change it, but before November 28, 2024 — next year’s Thanksgiving, what is something you could start doing now to show to yourself how thankful you are to God for your salvation, a home in heaven, a life here and His daily blessings to you?

Look at Psalm 107:1, “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever!: (ESV). God is good to us, even to spiritual zombies. This is why this Thanksgiving 2023 we should do what Psalm 9:1 says, “I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of Your wonderful deeds” (ESV). 

This Thanksgiving 2023, make a commitment to each day express your thanksgiving to God for all of His wonderful deeds to you. Do not let a day go by where you forget to do this. Why? Because daily gratitude to God creates in you the right daily attitude that gives you the fortitude and servitude to keep going for Jesus Christ.

We’re in a spiritual war every day and it is important that we are prepared before we walk out the door. Our military daily trains and equips our soldiers how to fight, how to engage in combat and especially how to win and survive. The Apostle Paul encourages us to be ready for daily spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6:10-18. Take your Bible and read this.

There is a lot of evil in the world today. Hamas terrorists for example. Girls and women abducted and forced into the sex slave traffic. Drunk drivers killing innocent people in car accidents. Some of those arrows of evil the devil and his demons shoot at us is to have an attitude of ingratitude. They know if they can get us griping, complaining and whining, they have defeated us. The Bible says this in Philippians 2:14-15, “Do all things without complaining and arguing . . . (ESV). 

Notice God tells us to do everything — not some things — but all things do them without griping and complaining. Mow the yard without complaining. Wash the dishes and clothes without complaining. Vacuum and pay your bills without complaining. Get up and come to worship without complaining about the weather. Are you a complainer? For the next year, monitor your attitude. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Why?

1. First, having a daily attitude of gratitude honors God. In Psalm 50:30a, God says, “But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors Me” (NLT). 
2. Second, having a daily attitude of gratitude develops my faith. Look at Habakkuk 3:17-18, “Even though the fig trees have no fruit and no grapes grow  even though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no grain, even though the sheep all die and the cattle stalls are empty, ¹⁸I will still be joyful and glad and thankful, because the Lord God is my Savior” (TEV). 
3. Third, having a daily attitude of gratitude creates fellowship. Look at 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up . . .” (ESV).
4. Fourth, having a daily attitude of gratitude helps me serve others. Look at Psalm 9:1, "I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things You have done” (NLT).
5. Fifth, having a daily attitude of gratitude is a witness to the world, unbelievers, skeptics and the lost. Look at Philippians 2:14-15, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, ¹⁵that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (NLT). 

Proverbs 11:11a says, “The good influence of godly citizens causes a city to prosper . . .” (TLB). This next 12 months, lets help our city prosper through having an attitude of gratitude.

Verse to Meditate On: James 5:9, “Do not complain about each other, Christian brothers. Then you will not be judged. See! The Judge is standing at the door” (NLT).

Prayer To Pray: “Dear Jesus, the easiest thing to do is complain and whine and gripe. I do not want to be remembered as that kind of person. Convict me to have a daily attitude of gratitude. Your blessings to me are more numerous than the stars in the sky. Forgive me when I make life about me, instead of You. Today Jesus, I am committing to having a daily attitude of gratitude for the glory of You. Thank You Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

Love you, Pastor