Thankful Moments: Seven Things in Life to be Grateful for

cup of coffee in autumn reading book
Photo Credit: RoonzNL Pixabay

In this fast-paced lifestyle of juggling so many responsibilities and daily tasks, it’s easy to rush through life without noticing the small blessings that we take for granted. When we take a moment to pause, we can reflect and capture unlimited opportunities of gratitude.

women laughing with camera and photo
Photo Credit: Yaroslav Shuraev Pixabay

Health is a treasured gift that is often overlooked until we are faced with physical pain or illness. The ability to wake up each day with energy, strength and vitality makes us look at life from a positive perspective and with a deeper appreciation.

woman in bed

man studying with book
Photo Credit: Cottonbro Studio Pexels

Learning never ends as we age. Life is a continuous journey of discovering, exploring, researching, learning, and growing. Life can be our best teacher. Whether a formal education, self-taught, personal experiences or challenges which push us out of our comfort zones, each lesson shapes and molds us into who we are. We are not defined by our circumstances or situations, but we should be grateful for the lessons that will shift our mindset and provide a sense of accomplishment.

mountains and ocean, nature
Photo Credit: Simon Berger Pixabay

Nature is awe-inspiring. From the white, crescent waves crashing upon rocks to sun-kissed sunsets or early morning sun rises to the solitude and serenity of a walk through a cluster of welcoming autumn leaves crunching under your feet, we can embrace every aspect of God’s creation.

woman boots standing on leaves
Photo Credit: Cori Emmalee Rodiquez Pixabay

It always feels good to extend kindness to others. It’s also special when others extend kindness unexpectedly. Spreading positivity, compassion, empathy, and a helping hand provides a sense of community and changes the hearts of others. Never underestimate how your behavior can impact and empower others.

baking muffins
Photo Credit: Jeshoots Pixabay
woman crying laughing expressing emotions
Photo Credit: Liza Summer Pixabay

Life will always present overwhelming challenges, obstacles, and struggles. It’s how we react and respond to life’s difficulties that will change our perspectives. When we look back on everything we have overcome, it can provide a strong sense of achievement and gratitude. It demonstrates our resilience, perseverance, and personal and spiritual growth in the face of adversity. Our faith becomes even stronger and our sense of thankfulness to the Lord grows even deeper. We our strengthen from our experiences as we navigate through life’s unknown and unexpected pathway.

woman praying
Photo Credit: Dee Dee51 Pixabay

Through every moment, the Lord has been the guiding force of protection, grace, mercy, and unconditional love. The intimate moments of prayer, bible study, worship and mediation has provided peace, strength, endurance, provision, and safety during life’s highs and lows. When we dedicate devotional time and honor God with our lives, we will experience a sense of fulfillment that the world cannot provide. It’s the foundation of where a grateful heart resides and where love overflows.

In a world that often emphasizes and indulges in seeking more, taking the time to reflect on our most thankful moments can bring a shift in our perception and perspective. It leads to a sense of contentment. As we express gratitude from our memories of the past, let us carry a fresh mindset into the future, treasuring each moment and finding joy in the little things in life yet profound aspects of life’s journey.

May you have a blessed and joyful Thanksgiving!

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Moments of Mediation and Daily Devotion

Phil 4:11

11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Psalm 107:1
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.

Psalm 7:17

I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness,
And will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.

I Thess 5:18

in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Phil 4:6

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

Col 3:15

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Col 4:2

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;

Psalm 69:30

I will praise the name of God with a song,
And will magnify Him with thanksgiving

Psalm 111

I will praise the Lord with my whole heart,
In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.

The works of the Lord are great,
Studied by all who have pleasure in them.
His work is honorable and glorious,
And His righteousness endures forever.
He has made His wonderful works to be remembered;
The Lord is gracious and full of compassion.
He has given food to those who fear Him;
He will ever be mindful of His covenant.
He has declared to His people the power of His works,
In giving them the [b]heritage of the nations.

The works of His hands are verity[c] and justice;
All His precepts are sure.
They stand fast forever and ever,
And are done in truth and uprightness.
He has sent redemption to His people;
He has commanded His covenant forever:
Holy and awesome is His name.

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.
His praise endures forever.

Psalm 100:1-5

I will praise the Lord with my whole heart,
In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.

The works of the Lord are great,
Studied by all who have pleasure in them.
His work is honorable and glorious,
And His righteousness endures forever.
He has made His wonderful works to be remembered;
The Lord is gracious and full of compassion.
He has given food to those who fear Him;
He will ever be mindful of His covenant.
He has declared to His people the power of His works,
In giving them the [b]heritage of the nations.

The works of His hands are verity[c] and justice;
All His precepts are sure.
They stand fast forever and ever,
And are done in truth and uprightness.
He has sent redemption to His people;
He has commanded His covenant forever:
Holy and awesome is His name.

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.
His praise endures forever.

Psalm 30

I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up,
And have not let my foes rejoice over me.
O Lord my God, I cried out to You,
And You healed me.
O Lord, You brought my soul up from the grave;
You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His,
And give thanks at the remembrance of [b]His holy name.
For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning.

Now in my prosperity I said,
“I shall never be moved.”
Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong;
You hid Your face, and I was troubled.

I cried out to You, O Lord.
And to the Lord I made supplication:
“What profit is there in my blood,
When I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise You?
Will it declare Your truth?
10 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me;
Lord, be my helper!”

11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing.
You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

Embracing the Peace Within

river stream

Just about everyone is searching for peace – whether in your home, work environment, college campus or schools, community, social atmosphere and throughout the world. Those who are not striving for peace are creating chaos and strife through devious acts of evil. We are in a battle over our mental, emotional, spiritual, psychological and physical state.

There is a secret place where you can reside…in a land of peace. This hidden place is Shiloh – Jesus who is the giver of peace. Come and enter the still waters and rest. Release your burdens, worries, fears, and anxiety and allow the Lord of Shiloh to carry them.

Always worship the Lord in song and thanksgiving.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matt 11:28-30

We are not meant to walk through this life carrying a heavy load on our backs. When you allow Jesus to enter, you can rest knowing the battle is not yours but the Lord’s. If you need direction, He is there. If you need, wisdom, He is there. If you need healing, He is there. Whatever you need, call on the name of the Lord for safety and protection. He is our refuge in times of trouble. Psalm 46:1

He will speak in the silence of your soul. He is the living water and the bread of life. May you hunger and thirst for Him in a dry and barren land. He will pour His love upon you and water you with His glory.

wilderness, Death Valley, dead trees, deserted island

I hear the voice of one crying in the wilderness, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord.” Make straight in the desert, a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight, And the rough places made smooth; The glory of the Lord shall be revealed. And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 40:3-5

And The Glory of the Lord – Produced by Quincy Jones

Related Bible Scriptures

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Phil 4:8

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak. And to those who have no might He increase strength. Even the youth shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31

The joy of the Lord is our strength. Neh 8:10

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High.God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah Psalm 46

boat in a storm

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Mark 4:39

For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream. Isaiah 66:12

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalm 23:2-4

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

By His Stripes: Healing and Wholeness for the Body, Mind and Soul

cross Jesus Forgiveness Healing

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes, we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

On my way to work earlier this week, I noticed a long, rusty nail on the sidewalk. The first thing that came to mind was how painful it must have been for Jesus physically and emotionally to be nailed to the cross. I cannot even imagine the enormous pain He endured. The sacrifice that He paid for our sins was so great and overwhelming. His love is everlasting and unconditional.

I cannot imagine the people who simply do not believe in Jesus. People who choose to live on their own terms and take credit for their own success in life without giving honor and praise to God. People who acknowledge the universe but deny the creator of the universe.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. John 3:17

The world is a scary place, and it is ten times worse for those who do not take refuge in Him. It has always been unstable and full of uncertainty but in a shaken world God’s Word is unmovable and unchangeable.

Through His selfless act on the cross, healing is one of His greatest gifts to us through His love. When we call on Jesus, we call on Jehovah-Rapha our healer. In Hebrew, raphe means to heal, to mend, to cure and to make whole. Wholeness requires health in your body, mind, and soul.

self care health and wellness healing

In our culture, much of our time is dedicated to work. In the past couple of years, there’s been a shift to work, life balance and self-care but without Jesus you cannot sustain your peace, energy, or strength. We live in a physical world and our health is the top priority. Jesus came to save us from our sins, but He also came to heal us from sickness and disease and make us whole.

Exercise Health Wellness

The Body: Embracing Physical Energy

Our temple (body) which houses our soul and spirit, our emotions and mental capacity is the vessel that we have a responsibility to care of. From our diet, to getting enough sleep to exercise and everything in-between, we must and should take care of our body with the utmost care. Our body carries us through every stage of life.

Daily exercise plays a crucial role in how we feel. Physical activity not only maintains our weight and flexibility, but it also releases endorphins which releases positive feelings. Finding exercise that you enjoy will help you become consistent because it’s something that you look forward to doing. Some to try would be swimming, sporting activities, dancing, or walking.

Through all the recent challenges with Covid and other diseases that are impacting the population, there is so much focus on health and wellness. Subliminally, we are absorbing toxic news and information daily that’s affecting our mental and emotional health. Depression and anxiety are at its utmost high.

woman eating popcorn watching TV

Advertising agencies are consumed with promoting pharmaceutical advertisements that fill us with fear about sickness and disease like diabetes, heart attacks and strokes. The quick fix is popping medications into our system without considering the adverse effects. In some cases, eating a balanced diet, getting more rest, releasing stress by connecting to nature, and participating in physical activities will decrease health issues.

Although there are medical procedures and medications that aid and cure the body, the Word of God speaks life and abundance to our body, mind, and spirit. There’s healing power in the Word of God. We need to grasp the healing power of Jesus.

The Mind: Fostering Inner Peace

Our mind is immensely powerful, and it can shift our moods, thoughts, and perspectives. Our diets fuel our body and bring clarity to our thoughts. Certain foods can decrease the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Other foods can lower cholesterol or inflammation, maintain sugar levels or stabilize blood pressure.

Health diet food

You must guard your heart and mind from negative thoughts that affect our mood. Stress over a prolonged period can cause sickness and disease. We also must let go of any negative emotions that keep us bound. It is a process of letting go. Everything takes time so give yourself time to forgive and move on.

Jesus will meet you at every need. In what area do you need healing? Stand on His Word for your healing and deliverance. Use your authority to unlock the power of God.

soul and spirit

But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:2

The Soul: Soaking in the Spirit

Lastly, our soul carries our emotions and personality traits. We must be emotionally healthy as well as physically and spiritually healthy to embrace complete wholeness. It is rooted in the heart. When there is an equilibrium or balance of the body, mind, and soul, your wholeness is in sync which means you are at your highest peak. It’s rare to maintain this balance for a long period of time because life dips and flows. It’s normal to experience highs and lows and we must learn to embrace challenges and obstacles. The natural process of life involves exploring, discovering, learning and growing.

When you do achieve a balance of aligning your physical, mental, and spiritual essence, you will feel a sense of peace within the natural realm. When you can get to a point where external factors do not shift your emotions or mental state and embrace your spiritual awareness within the natural realm, you can release stress, fear, anxiety, anger, or any other negative feeling. Prayer, worship and reading the Word on a consistent basis empowers strength, faith, direction, and wisdom.

musiic voice soul

Actively participating in social activities, engaging in creative expression such as art, writing or music, connecting with nature and giving back to community provides a sense of purpose, however our ultimate purpose in life is to honor and praise God. God designed each one of us for His purpose.

Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

1 Corth 6:18-20

Self-expression is also vital to your health. It is not about numbing or bottling up your emotions but becoming authentically oriented to share your true feelings and emotions in a healthy way with others. It’s also having the freedom to be who you are and not suppressing your personality, thoughts or opinions in fear of being rejected by others. It is knowing and understanding right from wrong and having a conscious and a sound mind. All of these components lead to a life of balance and wholeness.


Salvation, Healing and Deliverance Prayer

Lord, thank you for your great sacrifice on the Cross. I repent for my sins. Thank you for washing away all sin from my life. I believe you are the Son of God and that you died and rose again on the third day. I thank you for the gift of eternal life, abundance and healing of my mind, body and spirit. Transform my heart and mind so I will seek you all the days of my life.

I ask that you touch every organ, blood cell, tissue and muscle in my body and cleanse me from all sickness and disease. I pray for your healing power to deliver me from any pain in my body and make it whole again. I bind and rebuke everything that is not according to Your will that is causing me worry and stress. I am healed from the top of my head to the soles of my feet. May I rest in your presence as your healing power flows like a river. I seal this prayer by your precious Blood. In Jesus Name. Amen.

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Additional Scriptures

It is righteous and holy to focus our minds on good not evil. It will be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones. Prov 3:8

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

“For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” Matt 15:19

Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. Phil 4:8-9

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to [a]be abased, and I know how to [b]abound. Everywhere and in all things, I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through [c]Christ who strengthens me. Phil 4:11-13

Healing Scriptures for the Body

Jer 17:14

James 5:14-15

Psalm 6:2

Psalm 103:2-5

Rev 21:4

Exodus 23:25

1 Peter 2:24

Isaiah 53:5

3 john 1:2

Jer 17:4

Matt 10:1

Matt 9:35

Jer 33:6

Psalm 41:3

Prov 17:22

2 Chron 7:14

Psalm 41:1-3

Prov 4:20-22

Psalm 146:8

Isaiah 40:29

Isaiah 40:29

Isaiah 38:16-17

Luke 6:19

Mark 5:34

Psalm 103:2-3

Healing for the Mind

Num 6:24-26

Psalm 23:4

Phil 4:6-7

Psalm 29:11

John 16:33

Psalm 1:2

Joshua 1:8

Isaiah 53:4-5

Isaiah 41:10

Psalm 46:1-2

Psalm 55:22

Psalm 71:20

1 Peter 5:7

Healing for the Soul/Heart

Psalm 147:3

Prov 17:22

John 14:27

Psalm 147:3

Psalm 34:18

James 5:13

Psalm 73:26

Isaiah 57:15

Psalm 51:10

2 Corth 4:8-10