Always Give Thanks
Rejoice Always. Pray continually. Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's Will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Sister,
Are you one of those women who are walking around on cloud 9, skipping through the tulips, and talking to everyone they see when your life is filled with joyous moments and everything seems to be happening in your favor? Or, are you that woman who mopes around, feeling down and defeated, dragging to get out the bed and daring anyone to say the slightest thing to you when it is tough, hard to handle, and you don't see a way out? Which one sounds like you? I know which one I used to be like everyday of the week and 3 times on Sunday. We all have those ups and downs in our journey in life. But, for some of us, we complain more than we give thanks for all the Lord has done. We rarely think of the things He has kept us from, unaware that it is for our benefit. Before I became a Born-again Believer in Jesus Christ, I lived on both sides of the scenario. Happy one moment and miserable the next. Never did I ever really stop to be grateful, and if I were thankful, I gave myself the credit for it. Talk about thinking about yourself higher than you should. Lol - that was me. Growing closer to Christ helped me to see that it is only by God's Grace that I don't get the punishment I deserve because of my sinful nature. I realize everything that I am and everything I have or have not is by God's Grace. This realization led me to be more appreciative to God in every circumstance because of what Christ did for me. He didn't know sin but became sin by bearing all my sins on His cross so that I could be right with God. That's a tremendous amount to be thankful for. We as humans can get so caught up in life that we can't see anything around us but the things that matter to us most. We can't even see God in all His Glory and His marvelous kindness towards us. We forget it's by His Grace we can move, breathe, think, smell, and even reason. Oh my dear Sister... Give thanks always.
For those of us who follow Christ and want to obey His Word, we don't see thankfulness as an option but a lifestyle. We can trust in where we are on this journey because we trust the One who is sustaining us by His Love on the journey. So, where you are right now, despite it all, is where the Lord's Will is for you to be. In light of this, let's learn to be thankful. Our loving, all-knowing Father has you in the palm of His Hand and smack dab in His Will.... no matter what.
Sis, please remember that thankfulness is high on the Lord's list. In obedience to God, we are to live lives that express gratitude to Him. Paul makes that very clear in the scriptures we are focusing on this month. There is no circumstance you will ever experience that God is not aware of and has not allowed you to face. You don't get to choose what you go through. You just have to remember that Jesus is with you, whatever that "go through" is. So, Sister, let's rejoice, pray, and always give thanks.
Prayer Focus:
Dear Heavenly Father,
I thank you that you are all-knowing, all-powerful, and everywhere present. I can trust you with my entire life, even when I'm not certain of the details. Help me to rest in You so that joy and thanksgiving can come from me, no matter the circumstances I face. I know that you are with me, so please give me a song of thankfulness and praise that I can clothe myself with each day as I live by Your Grace.
In Jesus' Name
Amen
Application Exercise
This month people everywhere are pausing to observe a day of thankfulness and appreciation. For some, their appreciation is pointed in the wrong direction. Our thankfulness should be pointed upward. Every good and perfect gift comes down from God according to James 1:17. This month I want to challenge you to grab a journal and for 30 days each day I want you to write in your Grateful/Thankful journal at least one thing you are grateful for and actually give God thanks for what you wrote about. I'm sure your grateful heart will put a smile on your Heavenly Father's face. Let's Always Give Thanks! See you next month.
The Team of Push Pause & Pray