As we enter the season of Thanksgiving in America, I was thinking of all I have to be thankful for.  In fact, I try to make it a habit of thanking God for all of His blessings on a daily basis.  It certainly provides context and balance no matter what my circumstances happen to be.

Recently, I felt the Holy Spirit encouraging me to take my thanks to a new level.  Instead of waiting until I know exactly what to be thankful for, I''ve been challenged to thank God for some things I am praying about long before I see any change in my circumstances.  It started when I read the story of the miracle Jesus performed for the government official.  The story is found in John, the 4th chapter.  In it, the officer comes to ask Jesus to leave what he was doing at the time to accompany the officer home where his young son lay dying of a fever.  Clearly, the officer believed that Jesus could make a difference in his circumstances and could actually heal his son.  The Bible says Jesus responded in an interesting way:

   ⁵⁰ "Then Jesus told him, “Go back home. Your son will live!” And the man believed what Jesus said and started home.    ⁵¹ While the man was on his way, some of his servants met him with the news that his son was alive and well. ⁵² He asked them when the boy had begun to get better, and they replied, “Yesterday afternoon at one o’clock his fever suddenly disappeared!” ⁵³ Then the father realized that that was the very time Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” And he and his entire household believed in Jesus. ⁵⁴ This was the second miraculous sign Jesus did in Galilee after coming from Judea."  (John 4:50-54)

In effect, Jesus was saying ''take my word for it, everything is going to be ok.''   The officer had a choice, he could either believe what Jesus said and be thankful or he could have stayed there and argued with Jesus to accompany him home.  He chose the former.  He left with a thankful heart believing that his son would get better.  He made the right choice.

What about you? Has God spoken reassurance into your heart that gives you the peace to know that no matter what circumstances you are facing, you can trust Him to take care of them?  If so, start thanking Him before you see anything change.  Accept the fact that if He said it, then you can trust that He will do everything He said.  That''s certainly a reason to rejoice and more than enough reason to give Him thanks and praise.