Many of our prayers are sent heavenward for good health. John begins his third letter like this: “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” 3 John :2 Scripture often refers to the health our souls and not necessarily our bodies. Jesus spoke about this in His sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:22 ““The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.” Perhaps we have our focus wrong when praying for others. Not only should we pray for healing of the body but be concerned about the health of the soul. James tells us that we should pray for health by getting involved with the sick person. “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:14-16 Verse 16 encourages us to rid ourselves of sin through confession and pray for each other so that we may be healed. Healing here is both in body and soul. Proverbs 17:22 “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Points us to the state of one’s heart and soul as the source of good health.
My thoughts on praying for health and well being of others needs to be adjusted. When I pray for good health, or return to health for someone I should also be praying for the state of their relationship to God, their soul. If we want healthy souls, we have to have the light of Jesus in our hearts as that will bring permanent light and healing to our bodies. As James admonished we should pray for each other when sick but also check in with their spiritual health too. Having a healthy soul is more important than having a healthy body. As Proverbs says, a cheer heart attitude is good medicine and enlightens our soul, but a discouraged, depressed heart is crushing. Pray for one another that we may be heart healthy in both body and soul.
Give thanks for your good health today as you look at your heart. If you see the light of Jesus in your heart, you are well and blessed!
Linda
One area of giving thanks that has seemingly slipped away in America is the practice of giving thanks at meals. It is a rare occurrence to see people praying in restaurants as they are served food. Why has this habit begun to disappear from public view? I really don’t have an answer just some conjectures: **In today’s world, people seem overly concerned with how others view them and do not want to do something considered ‘politically incorrect’ and offend someone. **They have gotten out of the habit of doing this regularly. **Or perhaps thanking God for the food they are about to eat, never crosses their mind as they earned the money to pay for it, so why give thanks? 
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I must confess that I am convicted by this blog today. I often do not pray when I am out in the company of unbelievers or get out of the habit of praying when by myself at meals. Knowing Jesus was in the habit of thanking God for his physical provision of food, convicts me that I should do the same out of respect for God and His provisions in my life. I pray that you are led to do likewise.
One of the true delights in life is God’s family. No matter what kind of earthly family we come from that might be filled with fights, disagreements, hard feelings, love, tenderness, nurturing…. all believers belong to God’s family, He is our heavenly Father and we can call Him, “Abba Father’. This is a term that was used to express a very close relationship with our father, like Daddy. Romans 8:15-17 explains our adoption into God’s family. “
your requests be made known to God.” 
Psalm 28 is a thankful response from David for God’s deliverance. I want to focus on the verses 6-9. 
For which of these attributes are you most thankful today? I had a friend tell me yesterday that when times are hard she focuses on her joy in the Lord. What about you? As you go through today, meditate on God’s goodness and blessings towards you, then take time to thank Him.
own praises. Do I give God thanks with my whole heart? Do I remind myself and others of how God has worked in my life?
But the 
His glory. Remember Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the 
Opening his soul to God, David lays his hopes and fears before God. He concludes with verse 17. “
Make a conscious decision today to give thanks and be blessed for it.
As we enter the month of November that has our National Day of Thanksgiving, let us give thanks this whole month long for the things, people, places, hopes and dreams we have within our lives. God is good and worthy of all our praises! Isaiah gives us a song of praise in Isaiah chapter 12. As I look at various verses of thanksgiving this month, this chapter is the key of what our hearts’ attitude must be before Almighty God.
“Give thanks to the 
let us utter songs of joy and praise to Him all month long. Let the spirit of thanksgiving towards God permeate your very being, dip into that well of salvation, and live out praise and thanksgiving towards God and all the people you meet.
I was thinking this morning about the designation ‘Black Friday’. It seems that since the 1950’s the day after Thanksgiving has been called ‘Black Friday’. It began as a term to describe the crowds, like the street was black with pedestrians. It then became a day to retailers signifying when they began to turn a profit and moved from the ‘red’ into the ‘black’ as the volume of their sales increased. In the Bible the blackest Friday would be the day of the crucifixion. It was the day when the skies turned black and darkness covered the land. “
in communion with Him and have our sin’s forgiven. We are free to live a life in Christ that is pleasing to God that is free from the penalty of death brought on by sin. That Black Friday was the best one in history for you and me.
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worshiping him with holy fear and awe.
As we approach this wonderful holiday time, take time to put words and thoughts to your thanks both to your family and to God. Thank Him for all He has done, is doing and will do for you. He is an awesome God worthy of all our praises!
In Colossians Paul talks about specific areas in our lives that should create thankfulness within us. “
representative of Christ because of His sacrifice for us.
heart with gratefulness and may your times of sharing about Christ remind you that you speak for Him to others and cause you to give thanks though Him.
Fearless Living 