(Editor’s Note: This article is taken from The Book of Mysteries, a series of daily devotionals based on conversations the author had with his “teacher” that led to amazing discoveries).
We were sitting by the fire at night. The teacher had in his hand a piece of matzah, unleavened bread. He broke off a piece and handed the rest to me. We partook.
“The bread of the Passover, as Messiah gave to His disciples at the Last Supper.”
“Communion,” I said.
“Which is from the Passover,” He said. “And do you know what some call that bread?”
“The Eucharist,” I replied.
“Yes. And do you know where that word comes from? It comes from the Greek word, eucharistia. It appears in the Scriptures. But it has nothing at all to do with bread.”
“What then?”
“Eucharistia means to give thanks or to say a blessing.
“So why do people think it’s the bread?”
“It is what Messiah said over the bread. It’s what the Jewish people have said over the bread for ages. It was the Hebrew blessing known as the Motzi. He said, ‘Baruch atah Adonai, Elohaynu Melekh Ha Olam, ha motzi lchem min ha aretz,’ which means, ‘Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.'”
“So it’s not the bread but the blessing of thanks He gave over the bread.”
“Yes,” said the teacher. “And what does that tell you?”
“That life is not about things.”
“Yes.” It tells you your life does not consist of objects, but of the blessings you say over them … the thanks you say over them. You see, it doesn’t matter how much or little you have on earth. What matters is how much thanks you give for what you have. The one who is rich in possessions but poor in thankfulness is, in the end, poor. But the one who is poor in possessions but rich in giving thanks is, in the end, rich. And what was the bread over which Messiah gave thanks? It was the symbol of His suffering and death. He spoke a blessing over it and gave thanks for it. For those who give thanks in all things have the power to turn curses into blessings and sorrows into joy … the power of the eucharistia.”
Seek today not to increase what you have, but to increase your thanks for what you have. Give thanks in all things. The greater your thanksgiving, the greater will be your life.
Prayer Power for the Week of November 20, 2016
This Thanksgiving week, follow the admonition of the Lord to “give thanks in everything.” Start with thanking Him for who He is, for sending His Son to die for you, for sending His Spirit to reveal Himself to you and to empower you to fulfill the purpose for which you were created. Then continue by thanking Him for His Word that gives you instruction and for your daily blessings: freedom, family, friends, food, favor. Ask Him to help you find an outlet for giving of yourself, your time and your money to bless others. Continue to pray for the healing of a divided nation, revival, a harvest of souls, protection over our elected officials, allies, civil servants and our military (1 Thess. 5:18; Ps. 136; Luke 22:14-23; 1 Tim. 6:6-8). {eoa}
Bill Wiese 
Paul McGuire 
