1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Thanksgiving Day is just around the corner. For most, it is a day filled with family and friends, feasting and football. Forgotten by too many is the real reason we celebrate this holiday: To honor and thank the Lord as a nation for all His gifts and blessings.
But, if you, like me, are a practicing Christian, we realize that giving thanks to God is not an activity confined to one day. It is a 365, 24/7 commitment. In all times and in all places and, as St. Paul tells us, in all circumstances.
Really? In all circumstances? Isn't this a bit much to ask of us? After all, we are only human, and we go through some pretty troubling, frightening, and devastating experiences in our lives. How are we supposed to thank God when bad things happen to us or to those we love?
I'll be the first to confess; there have been many times in my life when I found being able to thank the Lord impossible. And, I dare say, we've all been in those deep, dark, dungeons where wallowing in sorrow or self-pity is perceived as more desirable than reaching out to God. Or, letting Him reach out to us.
And, being thankful in the midst of our misery is the last thing on our minds.
When it should be the first . . .
If you are in a place today where giving thanks to God seems out of the question, there is a way out. Start by remembering you are not the center of the universe.
He is.
Then, tell Him you are grateful for:
- His love
- His mercy
- His forgiveness
- His friendship
- His sacrifice . . .
These are unsurpassed gifts the Lord has given to you and me. Ones for which we can never thank Him enough.
~
Whatever the circumstances you find yourself in today, will you give thanks to God?
Please join me in prayer:
Create in us, Father, a loving and thankful spirit. Help us to remember all the mighty deeds You've done for us and the blessings You have given. May our attitudes ever be ones of gratitude. Amen.
Profound <3
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Tom!
DeleteBlessings to you!
My thoughts exactly.
ReplyDeleteIn everything give thanks, for this is the will of God.
Joy always,
Susan
Yes, Susan, in everything, give thanks, indeed!
DeleteBlessings to you!
Amen to that Martha!
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed day!!
And, another "amen", Nelieta!
DeleteMay your day be full of blessings, too!
Wonderful post. Holds true for every religion. Glad to be back and reading your posts.
ReplyDeleteGlad to have you back, Janu! I've really missed your writing, too; always a favorite part of my day! :)
DeleteBlessings to you!
Hi Martha,
ReplyDeletenice blog :)!I decided to follow you...
It was nice joining you in your prayer.
God bless you.
Welcome aboard, Jasmina! So glad you are here.
DeleteI end every blog with a prayer. Happy to know you joined in today and will be doing so in the future. :)
Blessings to you!
Yes, that is a clear message in that verse to be grateful no matter what. Like "rejoice and be glad in it," we are taught to be grateful, trusting that God's purpose is being realized no matter what it looks like to us. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting, Galen!
DeleteYes! This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!
Happy Thanksgiving to you, too!
Blessings!
I thank Him every night for the day that He gave me and for being with me throughout :)
ReplyDeleteLoved this 365 days 24 X 7 commitment Martha!
Thanks for stopping by, Me!
DeleteSo glad you liked the post and that you, too, are thanking Him in all times and places.
Blessings to you!
I believe that we dont really kow what is right for us. ANA important part of faith is to trust that that it is a blessing even when we cant see it as such. In fact I dealt on this topic in the recent past. Hope u will visit http://jerlyt.blogspot.in/2012/09/have-thine-own-way.html
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for coming by, Jerly!
DeleteYes, the key to faith is to trust. I will certainly check out your blog link. :)
Blessings to you!
wonderful post!! after the election, I was sick over the results. and told my husband, well, to be pleasing to God we have to offer Him praise in all circumstances, so let us praise him together and trust in his ways. My son said I was rationalizing, but I think faith is demonstrated more by trusting in God even when things don't make sense.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting, Ann Marie!
DeleteYes, we are to offer up praise and thanksgiving to the Lord no matter what. His ways are higher than ours and His plans will always have the ultimate victory.
Blessings to you!
I'm grateful every day, Martha, for this gift of life. :-) Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteI'm grateful for friends like you, Adriene! Thanks for taking the time to stop by today. May you have a blessed Thanksgiving, with new memories formed and enjoyed!
DeleteBlessings to you!
Being thankful in the midst of miseries is a hard thing for sure. But it yields such sweet fruit when we allow it to happen! Great post. I wish you, Danny, that precious grand daughter of yours and the rest of your family as well a Happy and blessed Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Jessica!
DeleteYes, it is so difficult, but you are absolutely right about the "sweet fruit" in the end.
Wishing you and yours a most blessed Thanksgiving, too, dear friend!
Happy Thanksgiving :o)!
ReplyDeleteSame to you, Jasmina!
DeleteBlessings!
First of all Happy Thanksgiving,Martha to you and your loved ones. As for being in that dark dungeon of self pity, I think we all have been there where you do not want to be grateful for all the things the Lord has given us. I too have been there many a times where I cry "Why Me?". I try now not to do that and every time that darkness threatens to seep in I think of all the things that I have been fortunate to have and somehow that darkness disappears. Thank you for sharing this. God bless you
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for visiting, Rimly!
DeleteOh, I, too, am so familiar with that "Why Me?" syndrome! It's taken many years and many experiences for me to trust that God has everything in His hands and that I can rely on Him to take care of me even in the darkest of times.
Blessings to you!
Sometimes when my mind wonders in prayer, I'd ask the Lord to take everything ~ memory, will, and all, but not this grateful heart. I could live through everything if my heart is joyful because it knows that God is there.
ReplyDeleteI think that's how God wishes us all to be ~ praising and thanking Him... filled with Hallel...
I pray with you.