He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness And for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing. (Psalms 107:20-22). O Lord, truly I am your servant: I am your servant, the son of your maidservant; you have loosed my bonds.  I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord. (Psalms 116:16-17)

Today, my spirit felt fragile.

Whenever I tried to work out a solution to my problems I often failed thus leaving me in a state of depression.

Many people, especially women, are like me. Impatience is our weakness. We want to get things done very quickly.

We can identify with Sarah, who could not wait for the promised child, so she provided a solution to her problem.

She decided to allow her husband to have a child with Hagar, her handmaid, and they produced Ishmael.

As a result of Sarah’s hasty decision, animosity developed in her home and she regretted her decision. Sarah’s actions brought in this world two nations and two religious systems that are antagonistic to each other.

Patience is a virtue that we need to learn and practice.

It is through fiery trials that we will develop patience. Indeed, the Bible said that the testing of our faith produces patience. Therefore, we must count it all joy when we fall into various trials.

But none of us want to have trials in our life! But, if we aspire to become tolerant, we have to embrace them.

We also need to be happy during trials.

Being joyful during problems appeared impossible because trials are times of pain, hardship, and sorrow.

But the Lord not only wants us to be happy but also thankful.

How can you be thankful when you are being persecuted? The Lord understands that it will be an almost impossible action for us to accomplish, so He called it the sacrifice of thanksgiving.

Giving thanks to God during fiery trials is a sacrifice because it will cost us something.

It means that some things within us must die.

We have to surrender or give up something in our life to praise and thank God in the midst of our trials.

The things that we will have to kill are the emotions that so easily overcome us during times of testing.

These emotions are depression, anger, sadness and complaining.

These are negative spirits from the enemy. Therefore, during difficult times you can get rid of bad spirits when you release the good spirits from the Lord such as love, joy, praise, and thanksgiving, over your life.

As soon as we begin to give God thanks with a sincere heart in spite of our circumstances, He will loose the bonds of wickedness; He will break the yolk of the enemy; heal us through His words, and deliver us from destruction.

As I typed these words I recognized the solution to my heaviness and discouragement. I need to offer up the sacrifice of thanksgiving.

My Prayer of Thanksgiving to God

“Thank you, Lord, for your goodness and mercy! Thank you for your excellent greatness! Thank you, Lord, for your mighty acts! I will praise you for all things and in everything because your name alone is exalted above all the earth.’

I am happy because my hope is in the Lord God Almighty who made heaven and earth, the Sea, and all that is in them; who keeps truth forever, who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners.

The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; the Lord raises those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow. (Psalms 146:5-9)

The Lord builds up Jerusalem (us); He gathers together the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name. Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite. The Lord lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground (Psalms 147: 2-6).

You made the heavens and the earth in all wisdom power and might so I give you thanks; you blow the breath of life in my body, so I give you thanks oh my God; You destroyed all my enemies and rendered them useless so I give you thanks, my Lord.

I thank you with every breath in my body. Thank you, Lord! Thank you and bless your holy name! Amen’

During this special Thanksgiving holiday whether or not you can afford to have a turkey dinner, remember God is in the midst of your situation, and He will provide so offer Him the sacrifice of thanksgiving.

Special thanks to my readers and supporters. Have a happy Thanksgiving Day and may God continue to keep and sustain you. The blessings of the Lord be with you always.

Additional References: Genesis 16; James 1:1-4; Nahum 1:13; Psalms 150; psalms 136: Psalms 146; Psalms 147