“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name.” – Psalm 100:4

Those of you who have spent any time with me know that I begin almost every prayer with “thank you.” I believe it is proper to always enter the presence of God with thanksgiving before anything else. After all, how can I ask God for something unless I have first recognized all he has already given me? Last night, however, this took on a new aspect for me. I was a little stressed because our dishwasher is broken, we have two different plumbing issues going on right now, and one of our cars has several problems that might put it out of commission any day now. In addition to all this, I have an appointment with a new epilepsy specialist on Monday that has created an undercurrent of stress for weeks now.

So, as I always do, I went to bring those requests to the Lord. However, in something I can only explain as a movement of the Holy Spirit, instead of making any requests, I simply began to give thanks…and give thanks specifically for the things I was going to bring as requests; “Thank you Lord that we have had a dishwasher for almost the entire 25 years of our marriage. Thank you, Lord, that we have a beautiful home to live in. Thank you, Lord, that we have always had at least one working car to drive. Thank you, Lord, that you have blessed us beyond anything we could ever earn. Thank you, Lord, that you have saved us and made us your children for all eternity.” You will never guess what happened after this prayer? I went to bed in peace, knowing that the God who has always cared for me will continue to do so, even in my current trials, no matter how big or how small.

Heavenly Father, thank You! Thank You for Your goodness, Your care, and most of all, Your salvation freely offered to us wretched sinners. Thank You!

In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Shane Cannon