It's pretty easy to be thankful when you live in freedom and usually have more than you need. What about the rest of the world?

Relatives mourn near the lifeless body of a close family member of Sunni leader Khadim Sarhid al-Hemaiyem, in Baghdad, Iraq, on Wednesday.

 

IRAQ INSURGENTS KILL SENIOR SUNNI FIGURE

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Gunmen wearing Iraqi army uniforms broke into the home of a senior Sunni leader on Wednesday and killed him, his three sons and his son-in-law on the outskirts of Baghdad, his brother and an interior ministry official said.

Khadim Sarhid al-Hemaiyem was the leader of the Sunni Batta tribe and the brother of a parliamentary candidate in the Dec. 15 election, the official Maj. Falah al-Mohammedawi said. Another of the slain man’s brothers said the family has been attacked before.

“A group of gunmen with Iraqi army uniforms and vehicles broke into my brother’s house in the Hurriyah area and sprayed them with machine gun fire, killing him along with three sons and his son-in law,” said his brother, Nima Sarhid Al-Hemaiyem. “His eldest son was assassinated one month ago in the Taji area, northern Baghdad, when unidentified men shot and killed him.”

Al-Mohammedawi said government forces were not involved and the investigation was focused on insurgents.

photo & story courtesy msnbcnews.com, 11/23/05

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - (NLT)

¹⁶Always be joyful. ¹⁷Keep on praying. ¹⁸No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

IF YOU WERE LIVING IN IRAQ, WOULD IT BE HARD TO BE THANKFUL THIS WEEKEND?

It's important to know that the term "Christian" in Iraq does not automatically mean that one knows Christ as personal Savior.  In general, it is someone who is not Muslim and may believe in the true God.  Without a doubt, Iraqi people, who are genuine followers of Jesus Christ, do face persecution.  Soldiers face the possibility of death every day.

DO YOU THINK IRAQI BELIEVERS AND SOLDIERS WHO ARE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST WOULD BE ENCOURAGED BY TODAY'S SCRIPTURE?  HOW ABOUT YOU?  DO YOU FEEL ENCOURAGED OR CONVICTED?

Our joy, prayers, and thankfulness should not depend on our circumstances in life.  (That's easier said than done!)  This goes against our natural feelings which tend to go up and down according to how life is going for us, right? 

The only possible way we can do this Biblical command, "No matter what happens, always be thankful..." is to admit to God that we can't do it in our own strength, no matter how hard we try.  So what do we do?  Remember that we belong to Jesus Christ and He is is control and has a perfect plan for our lives.  Seek His will, not our own.

Thank God for teaching you in His Word about how to be thankful.  Thank Him for His never ending love and presence, no matter what.  You don't have to thank Him for bad things that happen to you, but thank Him that even in difficult times, you can count on His commitment to use them to help you learn trust and patience.

• Memorize today's scripture as a reminder that it is God's will for you to be thankful.
• It's the end of Thanksgiving week.  Make a list of what you are most thankful to God for and review it every few weeks to see what you're learning about being thankful, no matter what!
• Use the subject of being "thankful, no matter what" as a conversation starter to share your faith in Christ with someone.
• Pray for the believers in Iraq, that they would experience God's protection and comfort in these very difficult times.

DAILY DEVOS is brought to you by Youth for Christ. Youth for Christ works with young people on campus and in the community in over one hundred countries around the world so that they might have an opportunity to become a follower of Christ and be a part of a local church.

Daiy Devos is published Monday through Friday. Archives can be found at YFC.ORG.  It's purpose is to help you apply truths from God's Word every day.

Our writer, Byron Emmert, has been involved with Youth For Christ for 30 years. He's served as Campus Life Staff, as a writer, and in leadership for the DCLA Conferences. He's also a Pastor in Minnesota and speaks at youth events. Byron is married to Linda and their family includes two married sons and daughters-in-law, and a daughter in college.  He loves sports, deep dish pizza, and spending time with his family.