Daily Devotional
Are You Thankful at Heart?
“Every good and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights.”
James 1:17
August 16, 2020
Ponder This
A Congressman told his pastor about a time he took his son to McDonald's for some father-son fellowship. He said,
My son ordered a large order of fries. As I sat there, the fries smelled so good, I reached out my hand to get a couple. But my son said, “Hey! Those are mine!” It flew all over me. I started thinking, “Doesn’t he know who bought those fries and gave them to him? Doesn’t he know I could go up there and order twenty orders of fries and bury him in French fries? And that I could take them away or go buy some for myself? Doesn’t he know that I’m just trying to have fellowship with him?”
Then God spoke to my heart. “My son, that’s the way you are with Me sometimes. I’ve given you blessings, and when I ask for a part of that blessing, you say, ‘Hey, that’s mine.’ Son, don’t you know I could take that whole thing from you if I wanted to? And don’t you know, if I wanted to, I could give you more? And don’t you know that I don’t need that? I am God. I have anything I want, for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness ” (Psalm 24:1). And don’t you know that I was wanting to have some fellowship with you?”
Practice This
Oh, friend, may God have mercy upon the spirit of greed that’s in our hearts! May we understand that all that we have has come from God—and thank Him for all He has done for us.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
