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Dear Fellow Grumblers,

It’s Thanksgiving; time to take a personal inventory of our heart attitude. It’s been a long tough year, with the world seemingly spinning out of control. We feel powerless to slow down the unraveling of everything we considered “normal”, but we must remember that our powerful God is on the throne, not in a panic, not worried, not in a hurry. And, He calls us, His children, to that same peace. “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Matthew 11:28-29, John 16:33)  

I have received His gift of faith by grace, so I am an overcomer. (Ephesians 2:8-9, Isaiah 5:4-5)       But head knowledge alone does not confirm to me that I am an “overcomer” if my heart is not experiencing any overcoming victory in my real life. In the 50 years of having Multiple Sclerosis, our Lord has shown me His faithfulness over and over again. Even when I was faithless, He remained faithful. (2 Timothy 2:13) Our enemy wants to thwart God’s purposes for us and prevent us from glorifying God and sharing the redemption story. As His redeemed child, over these 50 years our Lord has lifted me out of the pit of doubt, despair, fear of pain, fear of the future, and fear of uselessness. I have had to choose over and over again to put on the righteousness of Christ. And He is always faithful. (Ephesians 4:22-24, 2 Thessalonians 3:3-5)

Praise God that He has given His children the gift of the Holy Spirit; the One who convicts, the One who shows us what is true, the One who gives us discernment and shows us the truth about ourselves as we walk in His light. (John 16:8, 15:26, 16:12-13, Philippians 1:9-10, 1 John 1:5-7.) Jesus said that His spirit, the Counselor, will teach us all things and will remind us of what he taught, as we keep in step with the Spirit. (John 14:26-27, Galatians 5:25)

In this Thanksgiving season, let us spend some time thanking our Father for His gift of the Holy Spirit, “Who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance (as an overcomer) until the redemption of those who are God’s possession.” (Ephesians 1:14)

As Satan is “filled with fury, because he knows his time is short”, let us stand together in praise and thanksgiving to our Lord, that we overcame our accuser by the blood of the Lamb (the atoning sacrifice of our sins), who are fearless of death and hopeful in life. (Revelation 12:10-12)

Tell your stories around the table. These testimonies encourage us all to be overcomers, praising God that He has empowered us, by His Spirit, to live with open hands “the life that is truly life”. (1 Timothy 6:17-20)

Compelled by Christ’s love, (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)                                                                                                 

 Kay Willadsen