Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. --1 Chronicles 16:34

A father and mother of a young man killed in the military approached the pastor of their church one day.  They told him they wanted to give a monetary gift in remembrance of their son. The pastor said in response, "That's a wonderful gesture on your part. Is it alright if I share this with the congregation on Sunday?"

They agreed, and the next Sunday the pastor told the congregation of the gift given in memory of the deceased soldier. On the way home from church, another couple was driving down the highway when the man said to his wife, "Why don't we give a gift because of our son?"

His wife said, "Our son didn't die in battle! He's still alive!"

Her husband replied, "That's exactly my point! That's all the more reason we ought to give in thanks to God."

It's interesting that we most often give gifts to God in memorial rather than in appreciation. But it should be the exact opposite! We should give to the Lord consistently in our tithes and offerings from what He's blessed us with. And we should daily thank the Lord for providing our needs in both hard and plentiful times.

It's the same way in our prayer lives. We tend to pray the most when troubles come our way, not when we are being blessed. Remember to give thanks to the Lord through praise and prayer each day. And determine to give back to the Lord in obedience what He has given to you!

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Give thanks to the Lord for the blessings He's given you. Pray that He would make you a faithful steward and cheerful giver. 

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