The Wonderful Gift of Thanksgiving
Welcome to My Little House of Prayer. I am your host Dayla Smith. I am so very glad that you could join me today. Let’s open in prayer. What a wonderful time of year! I absolutely love this time of year. I used to hate it. Before I came to be a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, the holidays left me so empty and miserable. Always looking for more. Anybody out there feeling this way right now. Maybe even worse. I find it interesting that a season that boasts itself on happy - happy, joy - joy. But for most people, that isn’t so. So, I want to dive into a study that will absolutely give you a whole different perspective.
I am interrupting right here to tell you that immediately after I began this lesson, the enemy is attacking me. People I thought loved me, revealed to me that it was quite the opposite. Now, I have to walk carefully. I have to choose carefully. I can give in to my fleshly whims and return death, hate, and darkness to them. Or, I can return love, light, and life to them. I know I have to do right by them. But boy does my flesh want to hurt them back. I know that none of you are going through this right now. Hahahahaha. I am already choosing to do what is right. Why? Because I love Jesus more. Please pray for me and them. They need it.
The lies of the season
Satan and his cohorts love to steal our joy. But what you may not know is that they cannot keep them. The unholy cannot handle or keep holy things. They would love for all of us to honestly believe that they stole holy things like the gifts of the Holy Spirit and we could never get them back. 2 Corinthians 6:14-17 14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.So,this is so true. All we have to do is tell them to shove off in the mighty name of Jesus.1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
This is the greatest time of year is another lie. No, it is just another day of the year. And to yield to this lie is to break the commandment of God that says that we shall worship no other gods before us. All of the 316 commandments are about loving Him and others.They are His creation also, even if they don’t act like it. This helps us to keep our focus completely on the Lord. If our focus is on the Lord, it is not as easy to sin or lose our focus. So, to treat this time of year as the most special is to make it an idol. It is a trap of the enemy. So, how do we avoid this trap? By keeping our eyes on Jesus and His awesome Holy Word. To pray and thank Him. What better way to acknowledge these holidays.
Remember, it says in Proverbs 3:1-26 3 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.11 My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:12 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.19 The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.26 For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
The law of thanksgiving
So, how do we overcome the trap of the enemy concerning this season? We treat it as any other time of the year. We hold on tight to our profession of faith in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. In Leviticus, the Lord directs the Priests in the order of offerings to be made that would be acceptable to Him. I believe that David says it perfectly in the book of Psalms Psalm 50:14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High;
Psalm 95 O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.3 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.5 The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker7 For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:11 Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest; and Psalm 100 100 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
The book of Psalms describes a perfect fellowship with the Savior and King. There is true joy in fellowshipping with our Savior and King. He invites us to fellowship with Him all day every day. There is a way to enter into His presence. Thus, the need to read and understand the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation. The Lord has given us a road map that leads directly to Him.
This is how to find true joy in this season. This is how I personally find true joy. When I read the Word of God, when I pray and seek His face not His hand, When I get into praise and worship; I always expect His presence to be there. It is a promise from Him.
Matthew 7:7-12 7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Now, here is a question for you. Where is your focus at this time of the year? Does this leave you empty searching for more? Does this time of year lead you down the rabbit hole of death, hate, and darkness. Does it leave you feeling lost and alone? I have tried to introduce you to the one who loves you most. The one who wants to take you to love, light, and life. The one who will always be there for you. Through thick and thin. He is not a promise breaker. He made you a promise. That if you look for Him, He will always be found. You will no longer be lost or alone.
If you do not know the Lord Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. Let me introduce you to Him. It is really simple. First you must acknowledge that He was born of a virgin, lived as God among us, was crucified, died, buried and rose again on the third day for the salvation of all creation. That you are a sinner in need of a savior according to the mirror of the law of the Lord. Ask Him for His forgiveness for all of your sins and call them out to Him. Thank Him for His forgiveness. Then, forgive those who have sinned or transgressed against you. Then, repent. Repent means to change your mind concerning sinful habits. Change your choice making decisions. Let Him influence your choice making decisions as you get in His Holy Word. Ask Him to be Lord over your life. I want to pray this prayer with you. But, this is just an outline. The real work begins after I pray with you because it is a very personal walk with the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Lord Jesus, I confess my sins and ask for your forgiveness. I acknowledged that you were born of a virgin, you lived as God among us, was crucified, died, and buried. You rose again on the third day for the salvation of all creation. Please come into my heart as my Lord and Savior. Take complete control of my life and help me to walk in Your footsteps daily by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank you Lord for saving me and for answering my prayer. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you have made the decision to give your life to Jesus, let me be one of the first to welcome you to the body of Christ. All of heaven is greatly rejoicing over your decision today. Please let me know of your decision today. I want to pray for you. If this message has brought up any questions or spoke to you in some way, or if you have any prayer requests; please let me know by commenting below, private messaging me, or you can email me at my1littleafmp@aol.com. I would greatly love to hear from you. Remember I love you with the Love of the Lord but Jesus will always love you more.
(close in prayer)
