Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Let’s continue our Thanksgiving week, by thanking the LORD for being our Provision and not just His provisions.

Today’s scripture proclamation, Lamentations 3:24-25 (NKJV) emphasizes…
[24] “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” [25] The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him.

Consider…
The first two days of this Thanksgiving week made me think of this childhood prayer…

“God is great, God is good. Let us thank Him for our food. By His hands we all are fed. Give us Lord, our daily bread. Amen”

Such a sweet and simple prayer that taught us about the greatness and goodness of God. But notice it shifted to recognizing Him as our Provider and asking Him to feed us.

I believe one of the favorite names ascribed to the God is Jehovah Jireh is which means “The LORD will provide”.

While the name given by Abraham is reassuringly true, it overshadows an even greater blessing, which is the LORD Himself is our Provision.

That’s the conclusion Jeremiah came to in today’s scripture. He said, “The LORD is my portion!”

That ran my mind back to the old hymn that ponders…

Why should I feel discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart be lonely
And long for heav’n and home,
When Jesus is my portion?
My constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me;

Our obsession over God’s provisions tend to cause us to miss the fact that His presence is the Provision.

The familiar Psalms 121:1-2 (NLT) testifies…
[1] I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? [2] My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth!

Yet, if we go three verses further we read, Psalms 121:5 (NLT)…
[5] The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade.

Notice the presence of the LORD is the comforting assurance.

And there’s also one of the most quoted verses in the Bible, Psalms 23:1 (NKJV)…
[1] The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Typically we look at that as a declaration that God will supply all of our needs, however that limited thinking overlooks the fact that the Shepherd personally tends His sheep, which means He with them.

As a matter of fact, David goes on to say in Psalms 23:4 (NKJV)…
[4] Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

That let’s us know we’re never alone, even in our darkest hour.

Knowing that hits play on two of my favorite starting song lyrics…

Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine
He’s been my fourth man in the fire, time after time

It also triggered the old hymn refrain…

No, never alone,
No, never alone;
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone:
No, never alone,
No, never alone:
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone.

Which reminded me of the late great Dr. Charles Stanley’s favorite verse, Joshua 1:9 (NLT)…
[9] This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

God wants us to be more grateful for His Presence than His presents.

That makes me think He wants to hear us sing with Jesus Culture…

There is nothing worth more
That will ever come close
No thing can compare
You’re our living hope
Your presence, Lord
I’ve tasted and seen
Of the sweetest of love
When my heart becomes free
And my shame is undone
Your presence, Lord

Holy spirit, You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence, Lord

And desire with them…

Let us become more aware of Your presence
Let us experience the glory of Your goodness
Let us become more aware of Your presence
Let us experience the glory of Your goodness
Let us become more aware of Your presence
Let us experience the glory of Your goodness

If we ask God for more of His presence than His presents, we would discover the blessing of Psalms 37:4 (NLT)
[4] Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires.

Notice it’s when we delight in God’s presence that our hearts desires, which are Him, will be fulfilled.

The Holy Spirit just reminded me that faith pleases God, but read Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) in it’s entirety…
[6] But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Notice the reward for our faith is God’s presence!

And there’s the favorite, Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV) which declares…
[11] For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

But when read in context with subsequent verses, we see Jeremiah 29:12-13 (NKJV)…
[12] Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. [13] And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

Searching for God with all of our hearts is the desire He wants most and is most eager to reward!

I believe God wants to hear us sing with Travis Greene…

So take everything
I don’t want it
I don’t need it, God
Won’t you take everything
I don’t want it
I don’t need it, God

I just want you
I just want you
I just want you
I just want you
We just want you
We just want you
We just want you
We just want you

Or with CeCe Winans…

Yes the world
Will bow down and say You are God
Every man
Will bow down and say You are King

So let’s start right now
Why would we wait?

King of glory fill this place
I just wanna be with You, I just wanna be with You

King of glory fill this place
I just wanna be with You, I just wanna be with You

As we pause to give thanks and praise the God, let’s reflect on Psalms 139:7-10 (NKJV)…
[7] Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? [8] If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. [9] If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, [10] Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.

Thank God for always being present, not just for providing presents.

The fact is, when the Holy Spirit gave me today’s message He said plainly…

Stop obsessing over the LORD’s rations when He’s your Portion (at least He wants to be).

So like Tye Tribbett’s lyrics, this Thanksgiving
let’s proclaim…

Everything
You’re everything to me
Everything
You’re everything to me
Life and breath
You’re everything to me
You’re my peace
You’re everything to me
Joy in sorrow
You’re everything to me
Hope for tomorrow
You’re everything to me
Master
Savior
Ruler
Redeemer
Provider
Shelter
Healer
Delieverer
Father
Protector
Provider
Savior
JESUS, JESUS
You’re everything to me
You are
Everything that I’ll ever need

When thanking God for everything, don’t forget to start with thanking Him for being Everything to you!

Today’s song is…
My Portion

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)