Rejoice evermore. In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thessalonians 5: 16, 18)

An old legend tells how a man once stumbled on a great red barn after wandering for days in a dark, overgrown forest. Seeking refuge from the howling winds of a storm that seemed to rage perpetually in the forest, he let his eyes grow accustomed to the dark and then, to his astonishment, he discovered that this was the barn where Satan kept his storehouse of seeds to be sown into the human hearts. More curious than fearful, he lit a match and began to explore the piles and bins of seeds around him. He couldn’t help but notice that the containers labeled “seeds of discouragement” far outnumbered any other type of seeds.

Just as the man had drawn this conclusion, one of Satan’s foremost demons arrived to pick up a fresh supply of seed. The man asked him why the great abundance of discouragement seeds. The demon laughed, “Because they are so effective and they take root so easily!” The man asked, “Do they grow everywhere?” At this the demon became sullen. He glared at the man and admitted in disgust, “No. They never seem to thrive in the heart of a grateful person.”

Be thankful for what you have today, and trust the Lord to take care of what you do not have!

Most Holy God, we are thankful to You for all that we have, even when we don’t realize we have it; may our gratitude keep us safe from the discouragements of the world around us!