Elizabeth George's Blog, page 8

Our True Citizenship

The temptation for worldly acceptance comes when you lose sight of your identity. As a believer in Christ you are a Kingdom citizen (Philippians 3:20). You are a sojourner and a pilgrim (1 Peter 2:11), merely passing through this life on your way to eternity. Don’t get too settled in a world and a life that is passing away.

Accept your eternal citizenship.

Accepting your eternal citizenship will keep you from worrying and being overly concerned about what people think of you and your Christian standards and beliefs. God is fully able to enable you to live a victorious Christian life. And He is willing and available to do so. That’s His part. Now it’s up to you to do your part, to focus fully on Him—not others—and live for Him.

Citizenship in heaven is exclusive.

Jesus made a promise to His disciples: “I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 4:3). Those who are believers in Jesus will be taken to God’s heavenly Kingdom. In fact, Revelation 21:27 lists for us the kind of people who will enter: "Nothing impure will ever enter, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.”

Citizenship in heaven is eternal.

Your citizenship in an earthly kingdom began the day of your birth, and that citizenship will end the day you die. Similarly, your citizenship in God’s Kingdom begins at your “new birth” in Christ, but unlike your citizenship here on Earth, it will never end.

Citizenship in heaven brings immediate benefits.

In Colossians 1:12-14, we read of five immediate benefits for those who become citizens of God’s Kingdom:

We are qualified to share in Christ’s inheritance in the Kingdom (verse 12).We are rescued from the dominion of darkness (verse 13).We are brought in to the Kingdom of the Son of God (verse 13).We are redeemed from sin and judgment (verse 14).We are forgiven of all our sins (verse 14).Citizenship in heaven means representing Christ here on Earth.

If you were to move to or visit a foreign country, you would represent to them your native country. You are a reflection of your homeland. This is the same with God’s Kingdom. We must reflect the Father’s love to those around us. 2 Corinthians 5:20 tells us that we are Christ’s ambassadors here on earth. Let’s represent Him well.

Citizenship in heaven comes with a tutor.

The Holy Spirit is here with us, to teach us all things. John 14:26 tells us that the Holy Spirit is our guide, helper, and teacher until we get to heaven. We don’t have to go at this ambassadorship alone. As always, the Father has provided for us.

While things here on earth don’t always seem peaceful, and are not always easy, we aren’t in this life alone. Though we are citizens of our magnificent country, we are also citizens of heaven. May this bring joy to our hearts. The things we deal with here are temporary. Be encouraged.

RESPOND:

Dear Lord, please help me to live with my heavenly citizenship in mind, and to not be concerned with the ways of the world. I want to live for You alone. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES: 

God knows what it will take for you to experience the satisfaction that comes from living a life of purpose--His purpose. In A Man After God's Own Heart, you'll discover God's perfect design for how you can make a difference in all the key areas of your life.

REFLECT:

How am I more concerned with what the world and people think rather than with what pleases God?

REMEMBER:

Our citizenship in heaven gives us a Helper here on earth. We can call on Jesus for help when we get overwhelmed with things of this world.

Keeping a Prayer Journal

I know from personal experience that living a life of prayer is not easy. Our lives are filled with a multitude of activities that tend to crowd out time for prayer. How many times have you been guilty of telling someone that you would pray for them? At the moment you heard of their plight, you were deeply moved by their request, and your heart genuinely yearned to be a part of bringing their need before the throne of God. And then what happened?

I’m sure that, if you’re like me, more times than you would like to admit, you forgot about the promise to pray before you rounded the corner of the church building! Why? Because you didn’t write the request down.

An easy way to improve your prayer-life immediately, by leaps and bounds, is by using a list or notebook.

Keeping a Prayer Journal

Start to carry a small spiral pad with you or use your phone to take notes. Then, whenever someone asks you to pray for them or shares that they are struggling with an issue, and you are burdened to pray for them, write it down, text it to yourself, or record it in notes or your email.

Transfer

Your next move is to transfer the request or need to your prayer notebook...and, of course, to faithfully pray! You can also walk around each room in your home, and log prayers for each person who occupies that room.

Talk to God

To help you do pray, schedule a prayer time each day. You can think about praying. You can talk about praying. You can even pray about praying! But until you schedule the act of prayer, it probably won’t happen. So tonight, when you plan the next day and make your to-do list, include a time for prayer in tomorrow’s schedule.

Turn to God’s Word

Pray using Scripture—there is power in God’s Word. Indeed, “The word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12)! Make it a goal to incorporate Scripture into your prayers. List three of your favorite scriptures and memorize them to use in your daily prayer times. If you can’t think of any, begin with Colossians 1:9-14. In your prayer notebook, write out these and other Bible verses, leaving blank lines to insert people’s names.  I have an old denim-covered prayer book called “Pocket Prayers” that is nothing but Scripture passages with blank lines in the text for inserting whoever’s name comes to mind when praying those particular scriptures.

A prayer list or notebook, although physically only paper and cardboard, is a marvelous aid to your prayer life. It’s a tool that orders your prayers, helps you remember who and what to pray for, serves as a visual reminder of God’s faithfulness and goodness as He answers your prayer requests, and creates a historical accounting of God’s workings in your life and in others. Start keeping your personal prayer journal today!

RESPOND

Dear Lord, please help me be faithful to pray for others. I want to be a woman of my word who prays Your Word for my friends and family. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES 

Prayers for a Woman’s Heart – Pick up a copy of this prayer and devotional book to help you grow in wisdom, patience, and peace!  

REFLECT

Use a notebook or your phone to write down prayer requests as soon as you can after hearing them. Look for times in your daily schedule to pray.

REMEMBER

“We must begin and end every day with praising God, we must give Him thanks every morning for the mercies of the night and every night for the mercies of the day; going out and coming in, we must bless God.” -Matthew Henry

Praying for the Right Things

Paul knew the importance of strategic prayer in his own life and the lives of others. And he knew what to pray for. His prayers focused on spiritual issues. He knew that if those he was praying for were spiritually mature, they could handle anything.

We, however, sometimes have it backward. We pray about physical matters, not realizing that the real battles are fought in the spiritual realm, not the physical. That’s why Paul stated that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood” (Ephesians 6:12). That’s also why Paul urged believers to take up the full spiritual armor of God (verse 13). And when that’s been done, Paul says to pray always…for all the saints (verse 18).

Your prayers to God for believers and unbelievers are extremely important. So do what Paul did based on Colossians 1:9-12:

Ask God to help others know what He wants them to do with their lives (verse 9).Ask God to give others a desire for a deeper spiritual understanding (verse 9).Ask God to help others live life in a way that pleases Him (verse 10).Ask God to help others understand their spiritual gifts and exhibit the fruit of ministry (verse 10).Ask God to give others strength to endure life’s trials (verse 11).Ask God to give others patience when dealing with trying people (verse 11).Ask God to fill others with joyful thanks as they live for Him (verse 12).

Elsewhere in the New Testament we see other ways Paul prayed for people and had an influence on them:

He prayed for their purity (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).He prayed for righteous living that would produce fruit that would glorify God (Philippians 1:11).He prayed that they would experience the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:18-19). He prayed that they would be united in spirit with one an­other (Romans 15:5).

When we pray for others, we should ask God to help them grow spiritually mature. Without spiritual maturity, people will crumble at the first signs of adversity. As we just noted, Paul prayed for maturity for his friends at Colossae (Colossians 1:9-12).

As we pray for the maturity of others, as Paul did, we should also pray for our own strength and power. It's spiritual power that enables us to have "great endurance and patience… joyfully giving thanks to the Fa­ther" (verse 11). Your influence can’t help but be felt if you trust the Lord through this heartfelt prayer for others. Now that’s spiritual maturity!

RESPOND

Dear Lord, help us to have hearts for others. We pray for an attitude of thankfulness and humility as we pray for those around us. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES 

One-Minute Insights for Men by Jim George is a devotional resource designed to help men to discover the rich spiritual wisdom and tools they need for making a difference in all they do. 

REFLECT

Do you pray more often for the physical and circumstantial comforts of others or for the spiritual growth and maturity that God desires?

REMEMBER

Pray faithfully for others—including your enemies (Matt. 5:44). Pray always (Ephesians 6:18), enjoying God’s constant presence (Joshua 1:9).

The Lord’s Prayer

Just like you and me, Jesus’ disciples seemed to need help with praying. Wisely, they asked Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). Jesus then gave them—and us—a model or sample prayer to pray. This prayer is usually referred to as the Lord’s Prayer.

Read it now in the verses below. Then answer the questions that guide you through an outline of the contents of this famous prayer. It’s in Matthew 6:9-13. Jesus began by saying, “Pray like this:”

9 Our Father in heaven, Your name is holy.

10 May Your holy nation come. What You want done,

may it be done on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us the bread we need today.

12 Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

13 Do not let us be tempted, but keep us from sin (NLT).

Prayer should be offered as an act of worship. How is God to be addressed according to verse 9?

Prayer should be offered with great respect. What word in verse 9 describes God’s name?

Prayer should be offered with the future in mind. What event did God promise in verse 10 to establish in the future?

Prayer should be offered selflessly. According to verse 10, what should be the desire of your heart?

Prayer should be offered for personal needs. What did Jesus say, in verse 11, that we should ask for?

Prayer should be offered for spiritual needs. Write out the first four words in verse 12. As God has forgiven our sins, what should be our attitude toward those who hurt us?

Prayer should be about avoiding sin. Write out the first six words in verse 13. Write out what else we should pray for about sin.

The best way for you to learn how to pray is by praying. A lot of things are going on in your life at home, at school, and with your friends. So whatever is on your heart and mind is a good place to start talking to God. But this model that Jesus gave His disciples and us is also a pretty good way to start learning how to pray—in fact, it’s perfect!

RESPOND

Dear God, thank You for showing me how I need to come to You in prayer with every worry, decision, and choice I make. I look forward to the many blessings that come from talking with You in prayer. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES 

The Remarkable Prayers of the Bible: Transforming Power for Your Life Today by Jim George teaches what readers can learn from others who loved God and desired to follow Him wholeheartedly.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Keeping a Prayer Journal blog post

Prayers for Friends blog post

One-Word Themes of All the Books of the Bible printable

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REFLECT

Memorize the Lord’s Prayer with your family members. Recite it every evening before you eat dinner together.

REMEMBER

The best way for you to learn how to pray is by praying.

What is Prayer?

When you talk to yourself, it’s only a one-way conversation. You are just saying what you are thinking in your mind and your heart. But when you pray and talk to God, it’s a totally different story!

So, what is prayer?

Prayer Is an Act of Faith

If you have tried to pray, you probably agree that prayer can be difficult and feel awkward. Why is that? One reason is that you can’t see or touch the one you are praying to. Another reason is that you can’t and won’t hear any response to your prayers. It seems like you are just talking to the air. There you are, doing what appears to you or others to be talking to yourself.

But is that really true? You are, in reality, talking to God—to Someone who can actually hear you and help you with your problems and needs. Here is a verse that may be helpful. “Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

What does this verse say is the first thing you must do if you want God to hear your prayers?

Believe!

To believe means to have faith. It means you are confident that even though you cannot see God, He is real—He does exist. If you have faith that God exists, you can and are to sincerely seek Him. God knows you, loves you, and wants to hear from you. One way you can let Him know you love Him is to pray and ask Him for His help about everything in your life.

When we start to spend regular, daily time in prayer, we grow spiritually in a multitude of ways.

Prayer increases faith—I once had heard some advice about how to teach young children about faith in God by encouraging them to keep a prayer list. Like a child, I wrote out a prayer list in a special book and began taking my concerns to God each day. I was awed as, for the first time ever, I paid close attention to how He answered item after item.

Prayer provides a place to unload burdens—Problems and sorrows are facts of life (John 16:33). But armed with the call to cast all my cares and burdens on God in 1 Peter 5:7, I rolled up my sleeves and went to work forwarding my concerns to God in prayer. Soon it became natu­ral for me to start each day by giving all the cares of life to God in prayer, and I would rise up relieved, as if freed from many heavy weights. Author and pray-er Corrie ten Boom offers a vivid image of this privilege, “As a camel kneels before his master to have him remove his burden, so kneel and let the Master take your burden.”

Prayer trains us not to panic—Jesus taught His disciples that we ought always to pray and not to lose heart (Luke 18:1). We are also told that, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). Turning to God for every need during regular daily prayer time ingrained in me the habit of prayer. Soon I was replacing my tendency to panic at the first hint of any problem with God’s nearness and strength. Cultivating a heart of prayer is a sure way to experi­ence God’s presence.

Start today!

RESPOND:

Dear God, I want to have faith in You even though I can’t see You or hear You. I do believe You exist, and I thank You for the gift of prayer. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES: 

In The Remarkable Prayers of the Bible, Jim George looks into the prayers of some great people in the Bible, sharing what we can learn from others who loved God and desired to follow Him wholeheartedly.

REFLECT:

Talk to a respected friend or to your pastor about God and prayer. Ask them any questions you might have about growing closer to God through prayer.

REMEMBER:

If you have faith that God exists, you can call out to Him in prayer. He promises to hear you and draw you close to Him!

The Servant Shall Be Exalted

Isaiah is considered among the greatest of the Old Testament prophets because of his many predictions of the Messiah. Christmas is the time when we celebrate the birth of this Messiah, so you’ve probably heard this one during the Christmas season: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

Isaiah uses the word servant several times to describe the nature of Jesus’ earthly ministry. He wrote, “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights!” and “Behold, My Servant… shall be exalted and extolled and be very high.” (Isaiah 42:1; Isaiah 52:13)

Jesus was the son of God, yet He was the ultimate servant. He is the perfect example of a heart that serves. Here is one of my favorite verses about our Lord: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28)

Matthew is the Gospel that most exalts Jesus, as Messiah, the King! And yet we read that serving was a vital quality in King Jesus’ life—a priority and a way of life for Him.

The Bible tells us that Jesus, very early in His ministry, was “tempted by the devil” (Matthew 4:1-11). With each temptation, Jesus resisted Satan by quoting Scripture. Satan’s last enticement was a trade-off of power and glory if Jesus would fall down and worship Satan. Jesus replied to the devil, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.” (Matthew 4:10)

If you have a family, the role of serving others is a given. If you’re married, you have a spouse to serve and care for. If you have children, add them to your list of those whom you serve. And don’t forget your parents and in-laws…and on and on your list goes! If you’re not careful, your service can become focused on people. Then one day, you realize you’ve forgotten about your call to serve God. Jesus spoke about this when He said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-38) Lov­ing and serving God first is the most important thing a Christian can do.

As you consider the character quality of service, give praise to God that Jesus, the Messiah, our Precious Savior of the World, came first as a lowly servant. Open your heart and behold how the greatest man—and servant—who ever lived modeled what it means to serve and sacrifice.

RESPOND:

Dear Lord, thank You for fulfilling Your plan of redemption for the world. Thank you for the ultimate example of a servant in Your Son. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

In The 50 Most Important Teachings of the Bible, Jim George highlights key teachings every believer should know. With clarity and simplicity, this book focuses on the most essential elements of the faith.

REFLECT:

Take time to memorize Isaiah 9:6 over this month: “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

REMEMBER:

As a believer in Christ, each and every day gives an opportunity to love the Lord with all your heart. But, especially in these weeks before Christmas, take time one more to read the story of His servant-hood and sacrifice for you in Luke 22-24.

Who was Mary, Mother of Jesus?

Consider God’s choice of Mary as the mother of His Son. Mary was young and probably not from a prominent or wealthy family. The Bible doesn’t give any details about her physical appearance or information about her father and mother. We are not told of any outstanding characteristics Mary had… except of her love for God and her deep trust in Him.

We read in Luke 1 and 2 about Mary’s selection, submission, salutation, sorrow, and salvation.

Mary’s selection—Luke 1:26–33

Mary was a teenage maiden betrothed to Joseph, a carpenter. Why was she selected to give birth to Christ? Her humility, gentle and quiet spirit, and piety give some indication. In God’s perfect timing, the angel Gabriel came to Mary and announced that she would bear the long- expected Messiah.

Mary’s submission—Luke 1:34–38

What’s amazing is the way Mary received the news. Neither skeptical nor hesitant, she only asked an intelligent question of Gabriel: How could she, a virgin, become the mother of Jesus? Following Gabriel’s explanation that she would conceive of God’s Spirit, Mary said with complete faith, “Behold the maidservant of the LORD! Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).

Mary’s salutation—Luke 1:39–55

Mary traveled south to visit her relative Elizabeth, who was also expecting a baby. To Mary’s surprise, Elizabeth greeted her with praise for the child in Mary’s womb. Then Mary joyfully worshiped God in song. She quoted many Old Testament passages, revealing that Mary’s heart was saturated with God’s Word.

Mary’s sorrow—Luke 2:35

As God in human flesh, Jesus must have had an awareness of who He was and what He was doing on earth. This awareness gave Mary and Jesus a unique mother-child relationship. When Jesus was left behind in Jerusalem at age twelve, He wasn’t a dependent child. He said, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49).

Although favored among women, Mary’s life was a bitter cup of sorrow consumed at Jesus’ crucifixion.

Mary’s salvation—Luke 1:46–55

In her famous Magnificat, Mary described God as “my Savior,” acknowledging her need of a Savior. After the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, Mary identified herself as a believer in Jesus as she gathered with other believers in the upper room in Acts 1:14.

Mary had a heart for God, a heart of love, obedience, and trust. We have in Mary a beautiful example to follow as we seek to obey and trust God in our own lives.

RESPOND:

God, thank You for the young woman You chose to bring Your beloved Son into this world. Thank You for her example of love and obedience to You. I know that You can do anything through me if I will obey and trust You. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

A Woman After God’s Own Heart Bible with Elizabeth George – This Bible includes a daily one-year reading plan, 365 daily devotions, and so much more! Pick up this Bible for yourself or as a gift for a loved one!

REFLECT:

How do I respond when I receive unexpected news or experience troubling treatment?

Do I trust our gracious God to know what is best?

REMEMBER:

Life may bring sorrow as it did for Mary, but God saw Mary through, and He will do the same for you.

Alphabet of Blessings

The holiday season can be a time for us to thank spouses for the many ways they meet our needs. But, do we show that appreciation more than one season a year? Do we take time to count the many blessings we enjoy because of their care for us, and show them blessings in return?

I’ve saved and used this wonderful list from Partnership magazine for years. I hope that the alphabet of blessings that follows gives you some great ideas for loving your spouse through the holidays and throughout the year:

Amorous words are not outdated. Write a poem, sing a song, buy a roman­tic card. Honor their efforts as a spouse or parent with your words.

Bake their favorite dessert.

Compliment them—on their looks, their dedication to the Lord, their way with your children.

Drive the next time the two of you go somewhere, and let them relax and enjoy the scenery.

Enumerate their fine qualities, using this modified line of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s: “Why do I love thee? Let me count the whys.”

Fish, golf, hunt, swim with him—or read up on their hobby and give them time to enjoy it.

Give them the gift of time.

Hide encouraging scripture verses or personal notes in their coat pocket, wallet, or clothes drawer.

Indulge them with the luxury of breakfast in bed.

Join them for a day at their work.

Kiss your spouse goodbye when they leave for work. It’s easy to get out of the habit in the rush of life.

Learn more about them. Do you know their favorite childhood memory? The best Christmas present they ever received? Their favorite music? The time they were the most afraid?

Meet your spouse for lunch. Use coupons if you’re on a tight budget. Or pack a sack lunch to share.

New photos of the two of you can make the ordi­nary a day to remember. So get out the camera and frame the results.

Old, cherished wedding pictures can help you remember when your love was new.

Prepare a favorite meal.

Quips and cartoons can lighten their day. Cut them out and give them on a day they may need some encouragement.

Read a book together.

Smile when you see your spouse.

Thank them for the routine things you tend to expect them to do.

Uphold your spouse in prayer.

Valentines aren’t just for February. Give a little gift.

Wash and wax the car.

Xercise to keep yourself looking good.

Yes, let’s do it! Make that your answer when your spouse suggests things to do—a walk, watching a game, taking a day trip, whatever.

Zzzzz. Let your spouse take a long in disturbed nap while you entertain the children elsewhere.

RESPOND:

God, let me be a great treasure to my spouse, family, and You. Keep my ways godly, and help me in small and big ways honor my spouse’s service to our family.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

In A Woman's High Calling, Elizabeth George helps readers to eliminate the clutter and chaos of everyday life and focus on the few things God considers truly essential.

REFLECT:

What can I add to the list of blessings that my spouse would appreciate during the busyness of the holiday season?

REMEMBER:

Take time to count the many blessings we enjoy because of our spouse’s care for us, and show them blessings in return.

Thanksgiving and Heartfelt Gratitude

This Thanksgiving we are thankful for God, each other, our family, and you, our treasured friends in the faith. May God open up the windows of heaven and bestow blessings like you've never experienced. May He make His face to shine upon you. May He heal your body, heart, and mind. And may He draw you close to Him.

As we join our families for a day of gratitude, feasting and celebration, please meditate on and share these beautiful words of thanksgiving from David, the man after God's own heart.

Psalm 139

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

1 You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, [a] God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.
19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,
and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

RESPOND:

And now, O Lord, I bow before You with a heart of grat­itude. In the words of King David, I marvel “Who am I, O Lord God” that You have blessed me so abundantly? For Your salvation, for the forgiveness of my sins, for my family and church, I offer You inadequate but sin­cere praise and thanksgiving. Thank You, dear Lord! Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

In A Man After God's Own Heart, you'll discover God's perfect design for how you can make a difference in all the key areas of your life.

REFLECT:

How has God drawn you closer to Him during this time of the Thanksgiving holiday?

REMEMBER:

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

A Memorable Thanksgiving

Holidays can be a time of joy accompanied by family and friends. There is really no need to stress over the details. It’s a time to be thankful and celebrate peace. We can eliminate most of the busyness of the holidays by simply planning ahead, and not taking on too many major projects. Here are a few tips to help in your holiday planning.

Think Ahead: Start by planning out the menu your family prefers for the holiday. Choose only one item for the feast that will take up a good portion of your time on that day. The remainder of the menu items can be prepared a day or two in advance or choose items that are easy to put together that morning. If you have volunteers, take advantage of the opportunity to delegate responsibilities to other family members. You’ll also want to keep in mind a head count so you can prepare accordingly.

Decorating: Beautiful decor is a reflection of natural elements mixed with a touch of the unexpected. Keep things simple. Find one item to use as inspiration. Shop from within your home and expand upon the colors, texture, and theme of the inspiration item.

Entertaining: You can make your guests feel extra special with just a few warm tokens of love. Using something as simple and easy as a name card at the table will show your guests that they were thought of beforehand and thoughtfully considered when it came to preparations. Other small things such as placing a candle, hand lotion and mints in the restroom will help the guests to feel at home.

Baking: Cakes, cornbread for dressing, cookies, and pies can all be baked and made one to two days before the feast. Gather all recipes 3-4 weeks ahead of time and purchase all ingredients 2 weeks prior. Schedule a baking day and get the majority of your baking out of the way.

Chop, Dice, Measure, and Store: Vegetables and fruits can be cut the day before. This frees up so much time and will prevent having to do so much cleaning the day of your dinner party. Some tips I’ve learned over the years are to brush fruits with a bit of lemon juice and soak potatoes in water to prevent oxidation. Chop up onions, garlic, bell peppers, celery and other seasonings and freeze or refrigerate for use later. If a recipe calls for a specific list of seasonings, measure it all and store it together in a plastic baggy or a food container then label it. This will save you hours of prep time on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day.

Don’t get so caught up in the details that you forget the bigger picture. Remember what the holiday is really all about and reflect on that. Spending time with loved ones and catching up on life’s recent events is much more memorable than the holiday turkey that was or wasn’t a hit.

RESPOND:

Lord, I’m ready to create a “to do” list of joy and peace. I lift up my needs to You and trust in You. Calm my fears, guide my steps, and lead me to Your presence. I am rejoicing in You! Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

Check out our collection of THANKSGIVING PRINTABLES that honor the Lord and add beauty to your home!

REFLECT:

Think back on some of your most memorable family holiday gatherings. What made them so memorable? Focus on that.

REMEMBER:

Thanksgiving is a time of gratitude. In all the hustle and bustle, don't forget to be thankful for the blessings of family and friends!