Last night, the Lord told me when I woke up this morning that I was to begin thanking Him for the people in my life. I thought it would be one of those quick offerings of thanksgiving for my immediate family and close friends, but God had another plan. Without offering a definition, He said, “Start thanking me for the people in your life.”

When a name from my past would come to mind, I thanked the Lord for that person and then an entire matrix of associated names was revealed. I began to thank the Lord for those individuals and the names of people associated with them. I noticed my prayers of thanksgiving began to stretch outwards into other cities, states, and nations triggering an offering of thanksgiving for people I had not thought of in years. Some of the names were of people that I know who opposed, betrayed, or wronged me. My extended time of thanksgiving became my entire prayer time this morning. 

The longer I prayed my prayers of thanksgiving; an attitude of refreshing began to fill my mind.  It is amazing the power that thanksgiving can provide in all things and for all people. 

Thanksgiving Day is more than being thankful in a generic sense. It is a day to be particularly thankful for all the people the Lord has allowed to cross the path of our lives. An attitude of thanksgiving helps us see the expanse of the matrix and connectivity of His love in our lives, and for that, I am very thankful.

“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (I Thessalonians 5:18).