Thanksgiving!

Hello Counselors,
Fall is on its way, but it isn't quite officially Thanksgiving yet- but we can be thankful all year round. Find the devotional from Lenae below and I hope that it brings thanksgiving to your heart today.
Also- have you send in your 'reservation form' to Gladys for the Fall Training? Are you 'gathering' up the counselors in our club to all come together and enjoy this time of training, encouragement, and fun? I will post another entry later this week giving you all the details for that, in case you have forgotten. This will be a time that you don't want to miss!
Blessings on your day,
Kathy

WITH THANKSGIVING

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Philippians 4:6

Have you ever repeatedly read a Bible verse or passage, and all of a sudden God the Holy Spirit showed you a new thing? That’s what He did for me with Philippians 4:6.

I’ve always understood it to represent two parts of prayer: petition (making our requests known to God in prayer) and thanksgiving (expressing thanks and gratitude to God in prayer). I’ve only looked at this verse as teaching prayer in separate entities – petitions and thanksgiving. Similar to how appetizers and desserts are different parts of a meal.

But there’s more to this verse, is there not? As we go to God with our petitions and requests we should do that with thankfulness! We gratefully bring God our needs and desires! Our entire prayer, not just a separate portion of it, is prayed with thanksgiving!

By nature many of our requests and petitions stem from trouble. Do we thank Him for difficulty? No! But we can gratefully bring those heartaches before Him in prayer because . . ..

He is able! Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen (Ephesians 3:20-21).

He hears our cries! The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles (Psalm 34:17).

He cares for you! Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).

He will provide all that is needed. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness (2 Peter 1:3). And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8).

He’s working things out according to His will and our good. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:27-28).

Prayer Step: During your prayer time today thankfully give Him your petitions and requests.

Prayer can do anything that God can do.
E.M. Bounds

Grace and peace,

Lenae