by Gail Rodgers
Becky had often heard the little saying, “have an attitude of gratitudeâ€, and for the most part she did. She could count her blessings and generally found a thankful spirit.
But this… there was no thankfulness in this! Her “attitude of gratitude†could find nothing for which to be thankful for. If she were not careful her heart could slip into despair and yes, even bitterness.
She didn’t feel like reading her Bible but she picked it up and flipped through it. Her eyes fell on a familiar verse she had highlighted with red…
“In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesusâ€.
1 Thessalonians 6:18
It seemed to hit her with new clarity. It said “in everything†not “for everythingâ€. She pondered the thought. If she could not be thankful for this particular circumstance, what did it mean to be thankful in it?
When we ask sincere questions as we grow in our faith, with hearts hungry to understand God’s ways, the Holy Spirit shows us the answer.
Thoughts tumbled in her mind… she could be thankful for God’s faithfulness to her. As she recalled times past when life seemed out of control, she recalled God’s steadying hand on her and how His strength had carried her in difficult times. ( Matthew 11:28)
She could be thankful that God promised to work things out for good…yes; she had seen His hand bring good out of the most troubling things. (Romans 8:28)
With fresh realization her heart grew a bit lighter as she saw what God meant…be thankful in her circumstance because she knew the God who was bigger than any problem and He would be faithful to help her, His child.
Prayer & reflection: Father God, I truly am thankful for my blessings. But it is quite another thing to be thankful in the hard times and with the unanswered questions of life. Thank you for understanding it is not easy for me. Thank you for showing me that when I can’t be thankful for the hard stuff, You remind me to just be thankful in the hard stuff…for it is in the hard stuff where Your character of faithfulness will be proven over and over to me. Thank you for the confidence that You will see me through. Help me to lean hard on Your strength, and wisdom and care. Thank you that You will build a track record in my life through Your faithfulness. You enable me to be thankful in hard times because You are my God and You can be trusted with my life…even in the hard stuff! In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2010/02/23/gr_gratitude/
today morning i was little bit tenses about my daughter who has gone to write modle exam , after reading thoughts for the day about thanksgiving for every thing i feel comfortable and confident that she can put her best for the exam
thankyou
in my prayer,i never forget to thank God of He has done in my life..there are times i feel nothing,broken,not worthy to sing His praises,and discouraged but again and again_to all the failures i made….He still welcome me with His wide open arms…He loves me very much,i feel it…i m glad that God came to rescue me….how wonderful it is to be in His presence!!!!!!lets all thank,Jesus!!!
In every circumstances GIVE THANKS, for this is GOD’s will for you in CHRIST JESUS>>> 1 Thessalonians 5:18).
I do it by singing: GIVE THANKS with A GRATEFUL HEART… GIVE THANKS TO THE HOLY ONE
GIVE THANKS for HE HAS GIVEN JESUS CHRIST HIS SON..the words reminds me that I don’t deserve for what HE did to me. In good times and mostly in difficult times I THANK GOD for HE is WORTHY to GIVE THANKS and PRAISE in JESUS name. GOD bless you for this wonderful message.
We, the children of God should thank God always, no matter what circumstances we are in at a particular time of the day or night. Our lives are not our own. Its God’s. He loves us with an everlasting love and He never wants to hurt His dear ones. So being alive itself is His will and the rest He will take care of. All that we have to do is trust Him and Thank Him for being our Father and therefore we shouldn’t fear any evil.
Thank you. Blessings.