I know, I know. A cliché post, being that it’s Thanksgiving Day, but I can honestly say, this year has opened my eyes to being thankful regardless of my current circumstances. Yes, I realize it should not have taken me 34 years to come to this realization. If I’m totally honest, my thankfulness comes in seasons. Not that my life has ever been a bed of roses, but this year just seems to be building more and more chaos as it chugs along, and each season I greet seems to overlap the last season. What a weird time!

Speaking of thankfulness, as I was working through one of my devotionals the other night, a sense of thankfulness came over me as I read the beginning of Psalm 106. God’s many roles and descriptions raced through my mind. Each word bringing me deeper and deeper into praise.

Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Who can list the glorious miracles of the Lord? Who can ever praise him enough? There is joy for those who deal justly with others and always do what is right. Remember me, Lord, when you show favor to your people; come near and rescue me. Let me share in the prosperity of your chosen ones. Let me rejoice in the joy of your people; let me praise you with those who are your heritage.

Psalms 106: 1-5 NLT

The fact is, no words or descriptions that ran through my mind were ever enough. Almighty, Omnipresent, Creator of all things, The Beginning and The End, The Alpha and Omega, The King of Kings, Savior of the world… All of them perfectly true but not enough to singly describe God. I had to keep going. Bread of Life, Light of the world, Living Water, The Great I Am.

Last night I got to thinking about how much we, as a society, seek happiness from so many unworthy resources. The world tells us it’s ok to find our worth from our friendships and relationships. It tells us we need social media and it’s false comparisons to inflate our egos. Today (Thanksgiving Day) ends my 15 day social media fast and I have to admit, I’m thinking of extending it. It’s already past 2:00 pm and I haven’t even opened facebook or instagram (purposefully decapitilized because neither have authority over me). While I’m eager to share this post and a few pictures from my family photo shoot from a few weeks ago, I’m not looking forward to seeing the hateful slander that was running rampant before God placed on my heart the need to fast from social media.

While the main purpose of this post is to praise God, I also feel Him wanting me to express a point He’s driven deep into my heart over the past few years – happiness does not come from circumstances. We can’t use worldly resources, like social media and relationships, to fill a void in our lives. If we really think about it, resources are limited. They are not true sources, only portions of a source. They will always run out at some point. Instead, we need to allow The Source of All Things to fill those voids because He is Unlimited and Ever-Sourceful. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He never runs out! He never ends!

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The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

John 4:13‭-‬14 NIV

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

Psalm 23:1 NIV

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Romans 12:2 NLT

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Oh Lord God, my Savior and Redeemer – Thank you for being everything we need! You save us when we least deserve it. You seek us when we are lost. You never neglect to fulfill Your promises. You never cease to bless us with mercy and grace. You always fight for our well-being. You are ever present, even when we fall short. You leave the 99 to seek just 1 of us. You never relent. Thank you for rescuing us! Thank you for seeking our love! Thank you for your Grace and Mercy! Thank you for your Ultimate Sacrifice! Thank you for filling my heart and life with overflowing thanksgiving and love. May I never grow tired of seeking You. May my heart never harden to your Ultimate Agape Love. May your Glory and Honor reign forever! Amen and Amen!!

– Walking Thankfully by Faith & Finding the Blessings, Renee