Can a simple Uber ride turn into a life-changing moment? Join me, Tosha Williams, as I recount an unexpected divine encounter I experienced during my very first Uber journey, where I met Dumasani, a driver whose name means "Praise the Lord." This serendipitous meeting was an answer to my prayers regarding this year's Family Disciple Me Thanksgiving conversations. God often works through everyday moments to affirm our faith journeys, and this year, He used this Uber ride to affirm the FDM gratitude series for me.

My new friend Dumasani's meaningful, Zimbabwean name confirmed my desire to use some other really special names - like Jubilee, Psalm, Zion and Melodia - as welcomes into praise this Thanksgiving season. We'll explore these "Ways to Praise" in upcoming podcast episodes, but we'll start here with Dumisani:  Praise the Lord!

Spend a few moment with me as I share this introduction, then listen to what God's Spirit wants to say to you directly through His Word.

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“Hallelujah! My soul, praise the LORD. I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing to my God as long as I live.” Psalm 146:1-2 CSB

SEEK HIM: Devotion is Meeting with God in Our Own Lives! While praise may seem obvious at Thanksgiving, let’s look at it from some slightly different angles this month, starting with these first couple verses in Psalm 146. Seek the Lord about what He wants to say to you about praise and thanksgiving!

• WHAT:  What is God saying through this Scripture? This psalm which models intentional praise and thankfulness. Praise flowed from the author's innermost being, and this person pledged to praise, not just for a day or holiday, but for all life long. ~ Do you praise God from your very core; why or why not? How long have you praised Him? What are some of the things this psalmist praised God for in Psalm 146? 
• WHY:  Why does this Scripture matter? Praise changes the focus of our hearts, gets our eyes off ourselves and sets our attention on the One who can help us. Praise will change our hearts from bitter to better, from hopeless to happy, from grumbling to grateful. ~ Are you more grumbling or grateful? Do you need any heart change this Thanksgiving season? 
• HOW: How does God want us to respond to this truth? Psalm 146 is a testimony of how one person praised the Lord and why they praised Him. Godly praise calls forth godly praise, and we’re going to talk about ways to praise in the coming days. ~ How is God asking you to respond right now?

SPEAK HIM: Discipleship is Making God Known to Others! Thanksgiving season is a great time to welcome others into praising God with us! Psalm 34:3 says, “Oh magnify the LORD with me. Let us exalt his name together.” Who can you say this to? Who will you invite into the “Ways to Praise” conversations? Be intentional about that this month, using one of the "Ways to Praise" conversations each week!

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The Family Disciple Me ministry exists to catalyze devotion driven discipleship in our homes and around the world. We believe that discipleship starts with a conversation, and FDM provides free, easily-accessible, biblical resources to encourage these meaningful conversations along life's way. Sign up through our website to be "the first to know" about upcoming releases and resources (including the FDM App - coming soon!!!) You can also follow Family Disciple Me on social media.

Family Disciple Me is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry, and all donations are tax deductible. More information, blogs, statement of faith and contact info can be found at familydiscipleme.org