Leftovers?

I've been eating turkey for a few days now. It seems to be the tradition which follows Thanksgiving. I know Manna was to be collected each day (with the exception of the Sabbath) because it didn't last to be served as leftovers. I also know that I was "instructed" to collect manna every day. That said, I think there is a place for ruminating on what we've consumed. Maybe that makes today a Sabbath for me, I don't know? What I do know, is that I experienced the most incredible encounter with God today, when I chewed on what I had collected yesterday.

It's interesting that the whole "thanksgiving" theme seems to be coming at me, without any design of my own, right at Thanksgiving time. Yesterday God spoke to me about the importance of thanking God for every circumstance in my life. Not only for the good things in my life, for the things I perceive to be blessings, but for everything. Everything, if I believe that God is a compassionate, loving God who wishes only the best for His children, is a blessing ... whether I perceive it as such or not.

So I'm standing in the pharmacy this morning and my mind settled on some circumstances in my life which I consider the most difficult I have ever encountered. Circumstances which I am convinced are by the design of the enemy. Circumstances which I know are not God's will for my life, as an ongoing situation. Well, as my mind settled on this and was about to migrate to self pity, which is where it tends to go when contemplating these circumstances, I remembered yesterday's feast, "Give Thanks".

As the prospect of thanking God for these circumstances entered into my consciousness, I initially resisted. I thought about how ridiculous it would be to actually thank God for what must be the mindchild of the Enemy. Then I moved in obedience and thanked God. I thanked God for the circumstances He had permitted in my life, I thanked Him for what He is planning to accomplish in my life, for His glory, through these circumstances. As I thanked Him, not only did my perspective change, but I felt the presence of God's Spirit on me in a way I have not experienced in some time.

Sometimes yesterdays food is better today than it was when it first hit the table yesterday. I know this is not an excuse for not collecting manna everyday, but it certainly is sweet when God blesses so abundantly when I apply yesterday's truths.