“Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.” – 1 Chronicles 16:8

During the reign of Napoleon, a man named Charnet was imprisoned because he had accidentally made a remark that offended Napoleon. Cast into a dungeon cell to die, as the months dragged on, Charnet became embittered at his fate. Slowly he began to lose his faith in God. In rebellion one day, he scratched on the wall of his cell, “All things come by chance.”

There was a solitary spot in the cell where the sunlight came every day and remained for a short while. One morning, to his amazement, he noticed a tiny, green blade was breaking through the earthen floor. It was his only living companion, and his heart rejoiced. He nurtured it with his tiny ration of water and cultivated it. That green blade became his friend and his teacher. One day a beautiful white flower bloomed from the little purple plant.

Charnet scratched off the thing he had previously scribbled and in its place wrote, “He who made all things is God.” A little girl, who visited the prisoner next to Charnet, was touched by Charnet’s gentleness. The story reached the ears of Josephine, Napoleon’s wife. She was so moved that she persuaded Napoleon to set Charent free. Charnet left his prison cell, taking his plant and his newfound faith home with him.

In all situations, give thanks to the Lord. For in our darkest moments, He is still with us and cares for us. Are you thankful for all that Christ has done for you? Today in prayer, give thanks to the Lord that He is always with you.

“To thank with all your heart is an art–an art which the Holy Spirit teaches. And you need not worry that the man who can really say “Deo gratias” (to God be thanks) with all his heart will be proud, stubborn, rough, and tough, or will work against God with His gifts.” – Martin Luther God’s Word: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” – Psalm 107:1

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2002, Devotional E-Mail DEVOTIONS IN 1&2 SAMUEL, 1&2 KINGS, AND 1&2 CHRONICLES pkennedy@devotional.com