Push to be Thankful
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Even if circumstances stink, push to be thankful. Not just tomorrow. Everyday.
It's definitely a push at times to be thankful, as our immediate experiences tend to color our mood quite a bit. However, think about the amazing blessings which we have:
- Rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; freedom
- A house over our head, an internet connection to read my blog
- Food to eat, water to drink
- Relationships: Family & Friends
- Finances, though sometimes they may seem thin. They are finances nonetheless, and globally speaking, we're stinking rich here.
Ok, those are general basics.
What about citizenship in Heaven? The gift of Salvation through Jesus Christ. If you don't have that, get it. That's something to be eternally grateful for. Why end up in hell, paying for your own sins, when Jesus has paid the price for them? Accept His gift!
2 Corinthians 9:15
Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
Colossians 1:12
Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
Colossians 1:12
Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
Even the Lord allowing us to serve Him is something to be thankful for --
1 Timothy 1:12-14
12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service,
13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,
14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 2:14
But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.
12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service,
13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,
14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 2:14
But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.
Everything we do should be bathed in thanksgiving --
Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Walk wisely, and be thankful --
Ephesians 5:15-21
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Be thankful for the Lord's power over death, that we only can have through Him --
1 Corinthians 15:56-57
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
...and that we are no longer slaves to sin --
Romans 6:17-18
17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed,
18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed,
18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
So let us be this way --
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Life sucks sometimes. It really does, and often for prolonged periods of time. However, we're called to be thankful. The Lord has a sovereign plan for our lives, and often what we see is myopic (i.e. nearsighted). The Lord has blessed us so richly, and even though things aren't always the way we want them to be, know that the Lord has a plan for our good (Romans 8:28-29, Jeremiah 29:11). It's better His way and not our own. He does a good job of being in charge!
His way is tough. The Christian walk is a marathon (Hebrews 12:1-4)! On the way, we'll go through a lot of hardship and suffering (Hebrews 12:5-11). It's our lot, as believing on Him also requires us to suffer for His namesake (Philippians 1:28ff.). So let's persevere. We've had many faithful people in the past run the same race, and it's not our duty to fall back or walk over to the sidelines. I find it key that the writer of Hebrews warns about us growing weary, as it's easy to do. Life is short, but it seems so long at the present moment. It's a marathon. Push as hard as you can to try to reach the eventual finish line.
PUSH! And push to be thankful in the midst of it all. Know that God has called you to something big in His own eyes. He wants you to be fulfilled in Him.
The Lord got everyone through their first harvests and winters at Plymouth. The Lord will get you through much harder adversity than that, though the process is arduous.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Life sucks sometimes. It really does, and often for prolonged periods of time. However, we're called to be thankful. The Lord has a sovereign plan for our lives, and often what we see is myopic (i.e. nearsighted). The Lord has blessed us so richly, and even though things aren't always the way we want them to be, know that the Lord has a plan for our good (Romans 8:28-29, Jeremiah 29:11). It's better His way and not our own. He does a good job of being in charge!
His way is tough. The Christian walk is a marathon (Hebrews 12:1-4)! On the way, we'll go through a lot of hardship and suffering (Hebrews 12:5-11). It's our lot, as believing on Him also requires us to suffer for His namesake (Philippians 1:28ff.). So let's persevere. We've had many faithful people in the past run the same race, and it's not our duty to fall back or walk over to the sidelines. I find it key that the writer of Hebrews warns about us growing weary, as it's easy to do. Life is short, but it seems so long at the present moment. It's a marathon. Push as hard as you can to try to reach the eventual finish line.
PUSH! And push to be thankful in the midst of it all. Know that God has called you to something big in His own eyes. He wants you to be fulfilled in Him.
The Lord got everyone through their first harvests and winters at Plymouth. The Lord will get you through much harder adversity than that, though the process is arduous.
2 Corinthians 5:7
For we walk by faith, not by sight.
For we walk by faith, not by sight.
And for now, push.
Labels: grief, life, push, struggles, suffering, thankful, Thanksgiving
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