Keeping a Heart of Thanksgiving

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Keeping a Heart of Thanksgiving

Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:18c-20 ESV

The Thanksgiving holiday is upon us. But giving thanks is not something set aside for a certain time of the year and to be forgotten outside of that time.

The apostle Paul implores us to: “[Give] thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 5:20 ESV). I don’t know about you, but I find it difficult to give thanks for everything.

Yet, this scripture encourages us to do it. But it doesn’t stop there. It tells us how we can do it. We can do it in the name of Jesus. Praying in the name of Jesus is praying in faith. And praying in the name of Jesus gives us power to reach the throne room of God. Today, let’s lift our hearts in a prayer of thanks for all He has done.

Aren’t you thankful that the power of Jesus and the Holy Spirit living inside of us (the children of God) gives us the strength to give thanks ALWAYS and for EVERYTHING.

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31 Day Prayer Planner

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31 Day Prayer Planner

I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;

 incline your ear to me; hear my word.

Psalm 17:6 ESV

Are you struggling to pray?

When it feels like the world has turned upside down, it can be hard to pray. In fact, the enemy will do everything he can to keep us from praying. He knows if he prevents us from communicating with our Father, then the distance will eventually separate us.

Dividing us from the One who unconditionally loves us is crippling. It makes us vulnerable to believing the enemy’s lies. Lies that whisper: God doesn't hear our prayers. Has forgotten us. That somehow, He has lost control.

Once we begin believing these lies, we exchange… continue reading to find out how to get your free prayer journal today.

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When It's Difficult to Praise God

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When It's Difficult to Praise God

I’m honored to be a guest on Hosanna Revival’s WHEN blog. You can read an excerpt below and follow the link to read the full devotion.

When seasons of darkness linger, it can be difficult to raise our voices in hallelujahs. 

My own darkness came during a long season of physical and emotional pain brought on by chronic illness. Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome both robbed me of the ability to care for myself beyond my basic needs. And with my husband’s job keeping him out of town more than at home, I found myself alone for days on end.

On one particularly tough day, after seven days and six long nights alone, I felt the taupe walls of my living room closing in on me. With tears streaming, I cried out to God, “Lord, please help me.” A hush filled the room as I heard the Spirit whisper to my heart, “Praise me here.”

Immediately recalling the story of Paul and Silas’ time in prison, I opened the pages of my Bible to read. After being beaten by a mob, Paul and Silas were thrown into the inner prison with their feet fastened in stocks (Acts 16:24). They were bruised, writhing in pain, stuck, and surrounded by harsh conditions.

I felt the same.

The next words I read were fresh water to my thirsty soul…

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3 Things to Remember to Inspire a Heart of Thanksgiving

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3 Things to Remember to Inspire a Heart of Thanksgiving

Give thanks in all circumstances;

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV


“Am I supposed to thank God for this?” I clasped my hands into a fist as I stared back into my counselor’s wise eyes.

“No. You don’t have to thank God for the storm. But you can thank Him for who He is in the storm.” Her quick reply immediately set my upside-down perspective upright again.

Weeks before this encounter, flood waters from a passing hurricane left damage to my home. It was the last catastrophe on a list of tragedies that occurred in my life during that season. And “broken” is the only word that describes how I felt that day years ago. Words of thanksgiving and praise were not on my lips, and they were a galaxy away from my heart.

Sometimes it is difficult to be thankful when we’re hurting. Our thoughts war against offering praise to God when our lives are seemingly falling apart. But as challenging as it is––offering thanksgiving and praise––open the doorway to victory for a heart burdened by worry, fear, and defeat.

So how do we give thanks in the hardest times? Here are three things to remember when it’s difficult to praise:

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