‘“My thoughts,” says the LORD, “are not like yours, and my ways are different from yours. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways and thoughts above yours. ‘ Isaiah 55:8-9

Thanksgiving is a celebrated holiday in America (not so much in other parts of the world), that I so wish would become a culture in the Christian community. Today I want to encourage that same culture where you give thanks to God for everything. When the world has become accustomed to thanking God when things go right, after a near miss or when things turn out as expected, choose otherwise.

The Word of God teaches us to give thanks in all circumstances as this is God’s will. Let us make it a custom to give God thanks even for ‘unanswered’ prayers. As a matter of fact, unanswered prayers are never really ‘unanswered’. God usually responds in a way we aren’t expecting, hence our conclusion that prayers have not been answered. We are then quick to give the enemy credit for requests that did not turn out our way. God clearly shows us that His thoughts and ways are nothing like we would imagine and therefore, every response to our petitions is for our own good.

Today, take time to thank God for a failed relationship, for a delayed outcome, for an ended contract, for a punctured tire, for that one thing you have been mourning about. Had it happened otherwise, it would certainly be worse! Happy Thanksgiving!