A Joyful Word
  • My Story
  • Daughters of Devotion
  • brenzkay.crochet
  • Just Some Thoughts...

"In Everything, Give Thanks"

6/10/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Good morning ladies. How are you? After a couple extremely HOT days, it feels like Fall this morning! Talk about variety! I guess this is why we leave a few 'warm' clothes in the closet, just in case. It's nice to open the windows again (a little), after having the A/C on. So, what's going on in your life? Yesterday we went out and did a little shopping for some gifts for events we have coming up. I hadn't been out of the house since we got home from South Dakota, so it was good for me. The Mall of America and other things, like restaurants, gyms, and pools are opening today. I doubt we'll see anyone swimming today! And the rest of the day I will spend getting ready for our trip.

Devotion

Today's devotion is about being thankful in ALL things. Have a WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY ladies! 

"In Everything, Give Thanks"
CBN Ministries, Candy Arrington

Some time ago, I traveled to New Mexico to teach at a Christian writers' conference. As is often the case, I met some interesting people along the way. Some were chatty; others weren't. On one leg of my flight, I talked to my seatmate, sharing a little of the challenges our family faced last year and my thankfulness despite circumstances. She swiveled toward me and said, "Wait a minute. Both your mother and mother-in-law died, and your son had a severe injury and two major surgeries. How can you be thankful for any of that?"

Many times gratitude doesn't make sense to those unfamiliar with the habit of cultivating a thankful heart. Based on the story of the ten lepers in Luke 17, we can assume probably only a tenth of us make an effort to express gratitude, since just one of the ten returned to thank Jesus for his healing. So, is it reasonable to be thankful even when things are difficult? On the surface, no, but I believe we can train ourselves to be grateful even when waves of adversity and challenge crash over us.

Although last year is one I gladly consigned to history at year end, now that I am beyond the immediacy of crises, I more readily understand the reasons to praise God even in challenging times. The Bible tells us to give thanks in all circumstances, not just when things are going well. Here are some reasons we can do that:

God is our hope – Job experienced heartache, adversity, acute physical pain and mental anguish, but despite all he endured he could still say,

"Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him" (Job 13:15 NIV).

Trusting God to work out the details of what we're going through is probably one of the biggest challenges of our Christian walk. We fool ourselves into believing we have control over our lives with all our planning, but difficulties are less stressful when we relinquish our efforts and acknowledge that God is in control.

We have the assurance of God's love and salvation -- Romans 8:39 reminds us that no matter what we go through, nothing can separate us from God's love. If we've trusted Christ as Savior, our salvation and eternity is secure. This promise is balm for the soul when doubts and fears overwhelm.

Hardship lasts only for a season – When we're going through something really hard, at the time, it's difficult to imagine things will ever improve. And Satan considers these seasons an opportune time to whisper lies like "a loving God wouldn't allow this in your life" or "God doesn't care about you because he's not coming to your rescue." Don't believe Satan's falsehoods. God cares. He sees. He knows. And this season in your life will end.

"To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3:1 AMPC).

​Being a Christian doesn't exempt us from challenge. In fact, Jesus told us we'd have trouble in this world. Yet we're often angry and surprised when we encounter hardships. Just remember, we have the ultimate victory because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. For this reason, we can give thanks despite struggles.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.