In recent days, the Holy Spirit has been calling me to give thanks for the Lord's faithfulness to His Word for the entire duration of the Covid-19 pandemic, and I am encouraging you to do the same. The verses above show that believers are constantly "under the Lord's care." In times of disaster and famine, they will not "wither," but they will thrive and "enjoy plenty."

Think about how God graciously provided you and your family with everything you needed when pandemic-related shortages were everywhere. The above-mentioned verses in the Message Bible really hit home for those of us who have lived through the worst days of this crisis: "God keeps track of the decent folk; what they do won't soon be forgotten. In hard times, they'll hold their heads high; when the shelves are bare, they'll be full." (Psalm 37:18-19 MSG) If we want to keep the Lord's blessings flowing freely into our lives, then we must be very careful to give thanks for the ones we have already received, especially when He had to go to great lengths to provide for us and protect us.

Psalm 33 says: "Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine." (Psalm 33:18-19 NKJV) If you are a follower of Christ, then the Lord has His eye upon you. If you are reading this, then God has delivered you from death and kept you alive, just as His Word promises. Give Him the thanks He deserves, and continue to "hope in His mercy" for His abundant protection and provision in the days to come.

Scripture tells us: "God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others." (2 Corinthians 9:8 NLT) This is the Lord's promise to those who are devoted to Him, and who have a giving heart. God doesn't just want to bless us for ourselves; He blesses us so that we can be a channel of blessing to others. Today, the Lord is calling His people to be "overflowing with thankfulness" as we recall His many blessings in the past - and look forward to those in the days ahead! (Colossians 2:7 NIV)

Prayer: Lord, today, I ask You to give me a truly thankful and grateful heart for all of Your blessings - past, present, and future. When I face adversity of any kind, help me to resist becoming fearful or fretful. Show me how to meditate on Your precious promises of protection and provision, and to stand on them in faith. Thank You that I am constantly under Your care, and I will thrive and enjoy plenty all the rest of my days!