Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Monday, October 14, 2013

"One of them [a leper], when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked himâ€"and he was a Samaritan."¹

Even Jesus was disappointed when he healed ten lepers and only one returned to say thank you and give praise to God. "He 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?' Then he said to him, 'Rise and go; your faith has made you well.'"²

One of my constant prayers is that God will give me a thankful heart, not just at Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, but every day of the year.

No matter what trials I am going through there are always many things to be thankful for: food, clothing, shelter, friends, family, for life itself or to put it this way:

I love the gift of life, Dear God,
with all its beauty everywhere:
Blue skies, white fluffy clouds,
green trees, rocky mountains,
open meadows, the restless timeless sea,
the black bird on my window sill…
But most of all I love dear friends,
and if you will, please give to me
a greater love for you â€"
my dearest friend of all.³

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, for all of these and so much moreâ€"especially for dying for my sins and giving me the gift of eternal lifeâ€"I give you thanks. And please help me always to appreciate all that you have done for me, and give me a generous heart so that I will give to others as you have given to me. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Luke 17:15-16 (NIV).
2. Luke 17:17-19 (NIV).
3. Dick Innes. Copyright. From the poem, "Life." See more poems by Dick at: www.actscom.com/store/poems_all.php.

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