Today’s devotion is from Luke 17:12-19 (NKJV)
As Jesus entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you whole.”
Sometimes people can be very desperate for the Lord to give them a miracle, but unfortunately, many times those same people receive their miracle and then just go on with life and forget about the Lord until the next time they need him again.
I don’t know about you, but I trust the Lord continually throughout every day for favor, wisdom, supernatural ability, provision and I even trust Him for a good place to park when I go to the store. I want to be like the leper who came back to Jesus and gave Him thanks. I make it a point to stop and THANK the Lord throughout the day… throughout the day I lift my hands and say out loud, “Thank you Jesus, praise the Lord, bless your Name Jesus, I worship you Jesus!”
Notice that all ten lepers were healed, but only the one who returned to bring thanksgiving to the Lord was made whole… There is a significant spiritual blessing for those who will make time to give thanks to the Lord. When Judah went into battle with the singers and musicians in front singing, “Give thanks to the Lord, for His mercy endures forever”, the Lord and His angel armies defeated the armies that were attacking Judah. Their thanksgiving released the power of God to destroy the work of the enemy.
As we make time and as we take time to give thanks to the Lord, I believe we tap into a powerful blessing from the Lord! You and I have so much to be thankful for, every American has so much to be thankful for! God has been good to us family, lets take some time, get focused and then give sincere thanks and praise to our mighty God! I thank the Father for His unconditional love, for Jesus and for the Holy Spirit, I thank the Lord for His goodness, His mercy, His grace and for everything that He continues to bless me with, I thank God for America, I thank God for Hawaii, I thank God for my wonderful family, I thank God for each one of you and I thank God for the privilege of getting to serve Him and to proclaim His goodness to the Nations! How about you? Are you thankful today?