“I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices…” Psalm 16:7-9
On this Thanksgiving day, I want to slip a little note of encouragement right into your heart. I’m not sure what your day holds, but I hope your heart holds onto a little jewel among the busyness and the anticipation of the holiday season…
God has you. I know you often wonder what God’s plan is for your life. I know you often struggle to believe He is really in the details…guiding you, leading you…showing you His way for you. I know you often wonder if you’re in the center of God’s will or if you’ve strayed so far outside of it that you are way off God’s course for your life.
Today I want to encourage you that God wants you to know His will for your life even more than you want to know His will for your life! He is working tirelessly behind the scenes to guide you, direct your heart, shape your desires, and lead you into becoming all that He created you to be. You can relax. You can lean back. You don’t have to manipulate your dreams or your desires into happening….no, you can trust Him to shape your dreams and desires. You don’t have to analyze and strategize over the future. You don’t have to try and figure out God’s will for you and how He wants to use you.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, today you can let go trying to figure it all out, and you can simply make your purpose, your goal, your dream….knowing Him. Make knowing Him your highest purpose, your greatest pursuit, your sweetest goal. Make knowing Him the greatest thing you are thankful for.
And then be ready to let Him transform your heart. Jesus transforming your heart is the greatest way to become more YOU. A heart leaned into Jesus, is a heart being most itself…the self God wants you to be.
As you count your blessings today, may you allow your heart to fully rest that God made you, wired you, and gifted you in the way He saw to be most beautiful and that as you look to Him, He will be your Counselor, Guide, and Strength one step at a time, one day at a time. Therefore, your heart can rest in gladness knowing He’s got you, He knows you, He pursues your heart, and He loves you. His presence will fill you like nothing else. Today, be encouraged, be inspired, and be thankful for this Savior who cares so intimately for you and who takes great pleasure in leading you through this dance called life.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Beautifully written words of truth! Inspiring and thought provoking.
Thanks so much, Alyssa!
Thank you so much for sharing this little ‘jewel!’ I did not have time to read it the day it arrived in my inbox but felt I should save it for later. Now I know why! I needed that word TODAY, and I deeply appreciate you sharing what God laid on your heart! He is using you, make no mistake about that.:) What a ministry of encouragement you have here, and what a blessing to all who are touched by it! Thank you for what you are doing, and please don’t give up! Blessings, Joy
Joy, thank you for your incredibly encouraging and sweet comment. I am so blessed to know that that devotional encouraged you. And just so you know, YOU encouraged me with your sweet words. Thank you. Thank you. God used YOU to encourage me. Blessings!