DAILY DISCIPLINE #36
By Colleen Donahue

"Now on His way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As He was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met Him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, 'Jesus, Master, have pity on us!' When He saw them, he said, 'Go show yourselves to the priests.' And as they went, they were cleansed.

One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked Him- and he was a Samaritan Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Luke 17:11-18

How often have we read this little story with indignation and wondered how only one person out of ten actually thanked God for such a remarkable healing? Their ingratitude seems unthinkable and rude--until we begin to examine our own lives and see some of that same ugly trait in ourselves. How many times have our lives been touched or turned by an almost miraculous turn of events and yet we haven't even thought that God might have been behind it? How many days has the sun risen and set on time without any acknowledgment that God has shown us perfect consistency and faithfulness in day to day matters? It is no wonder that our hearts can become so hardened when God has done so much and we have thanked Him so little.

Last month we concentrated on Praise. Now this month we look at Praise's "twin" called ......

THANKSGIVING -- Always? Everywhere? For Everything?

Day 1- Before Jesus came as the final sacrifice for all mankind, His people were constantly offering animal or bread sacrifices for different purposes. What was one of the greatest purposes of their sacrifices?
Leviticus 7:12-15 / 22:29 / 2 Chronicles 33:16

Day 2 -Notice, that to offer to God thanksgiving is His loving command to us.
Psalm 50:14 / Colossians 3:17

Day 3 -When God leads us to a new step in life as He did the Israelites, what is He expecting?
Deuteronomy 8:10

Day 4 -In our dealings with each other, we say "thank you" for only the good and pleasant things people give us or do for us. But as God's children, our gratefulness needs to extend to ALL circumstances--good or bad.
I Thessalonians 5:18

Day 5 -But why can we thank God for the seemingly bad or unpleasant things?
Romans 8:28

Day 6 -We all have had or will have anxious moments and fretful circumstances that will drive us to our knees to seek God, who alone can answer. Despite the pressure we may feel, how are these prayers to be offered?
Philippians 4:6 / Colossians 4:2

Day 7- What is our guide for even speaking with each other?
Ephesians 5:4, 19,20

Day 8- How are we to enter into God's presence?
Psalm 95:2 / 100:4

Day 9- What used to be and is presently an acceptable way to show our thanks to God?
2 Chronicles 5:13 / Nehemiah 12:8,46 / Psalm 26:7 / 42:4 /147:7

Day 10- How can we honor the Lord today?
Psalm 50:23/ 69:30

Day 11- What same command holds true today?
Psalm 50:14

Day 12 -What should our songs of Thanksgiving include in them?
Psalm 26:7 / 107:22

WHAT HAS GOD DONE FOR US THAT WE SHOULD BE SO THANKFUL?

Day 13 -What did God make for us to enjoy?
Genesis 1:1

Day 14- Many of us are not aware of how God has worked throughout history and the mighty things He has done.
Read Psalm 136 for a brief listing.

Day 15- He has shown us loving-kindness each morning and is faithful to stay with us even by night.
Psalm 92:2

Day 16- He has declared Himself to be our God and called us to be His people.
Psalm 95:6-7

Day 17- He has often been our help and kept us standing even when we weren't aware.
Psalm 94:17-19

Day 18- All of us have sinned and fallen so short of God's glory that we are destined to be destroyed. To prevent this what did God do?
John 3:16 / Romans 8:3

Day 19- Because of the fallen nature that we have inherited from Adam, we are destined for a life of trouble and darkness....or are we?
Ephesians 1:7 / Colossians 1:12-14

Day 20- How did God reveal His Son to the world?
Isaiah 7:14/ 9:6 / John 1:14

Day 21- So often we wish we could erase who we have been and start over. How has this been made possible?
2 Corinthians 5:17

Day 22- God knew that the fallen world could never satisfy us. What does He promise to give us?
Revelations 21:6

Day 23- No matter how we feel other men respond to us, what is God's attitude?
Jeremiah 31:3

Day 24- How is it that you and I can even begin to approach God in prayer?
Ephesians 2:13

Day 25- All men long deep down for eternal life--something beyond these 80 years. Where is it found?
I John 5:11-12

Day 26- What kind of life did God intend for us to live because He sent Jesus?
John 10:10

Day 27- How is God able to meet our needs?
Philippians 4:19

Day 28- How does God enable us to do the tasks He gives us to do?
Philippians 4:13

INGRATITUDE?

Day 29- What questions did God need to ask the Israelites that exposed their ingratitude?
Deuteronomy 32:6

Day 30- What became the situation in Rome years later?
Romans 1:21 --- Could this be a picture of today?

Day 31- As we go forward into the year, what needs to be the response of our hearts?
I Chronicles 16:8-12

Daily Discipline Table of Contents