Always GIVE THANKS to God for everything - Eph. 5:20

Good morning and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!  I have been trying to send this blog for weeks now...and I think the Lord finally has my heart where He wanted it -- VERY GRATEFUL!  I think that's where Paul was when he wrote this message...I think that's where his heart was throughout all his writings.  If there was ever someone who had a reason to grump, it would have been him.  He was writing many of his letters from prison...hungry, cold, lonely, destitute...but he wasn't grumping...what was he doing?  Praising God and thanking him with a joyful heart.  That's where I am today - and desire to be every day!  To be fair, it is not always my "default" position.

ALWAYS - This is not a moment-by-moment state - the word means "at all times".  Even when things are not going right...in fact, especially when things are not going right.  I believe gratitude is the defining mark of a believer - one who has hope in an eternal God and Savior.  Martin Rinkart wrote the hymn "Now Thank We All Our God" when he was surrounded by death and destruction. As a 17th-centry Lutheran pastor, his ministry was hard and yet he still found many things to be grateful for.  Nancy DeMoss says "True Thanksgiving comes at a cost".

TO GOD - Paul knew to whom he was thankful.  He was a brilliant man and his faith was strong...He knew the circumstances of his life were not an accident.  In 2 Tim 4:17, he said "...the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength".  He was grateful to God and God alone for that which was hard and that which was good.

FOR EVERYTHING - Listen to Billy Graham:

Thanksgiving for the Apostle Paul was not a once-a-year celebration,

but a daily reality that changed his life and made him a joyful

person in every situation.  Nothing turns us into bitter, selfish, dissatisfied

people more quickly than un ungrateful heart.  And nothing

will do more to restore contentment and the joy of our salvation

than a true spirit of thankfulness.

 

Recently I have seen a number of articles on Facebook giving the characteristics of toxic or unhappy people.  Most of them have to do with an ungrateful heart.  Don't read them if you don't want to be convicted about your grumbling, self-centered lives.  But if you want to have a heart of joy like Paul, acknowledge the ingratitude of your heart and the worldly pursuits we let define our lives.  "Always GIVE THANKS to God for everything" and let the life of Paul show you a way to live that brings joy to your heart and glory to your Father.

 

By the way, I have even more things to be thankful for this week than last - my sweet husband, who recently lost his mother, developed a pulmonary embolism and he has just returned home from the hospital, by the grace of God.  I am among the most thankful.  Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

 

For further study: Psalm 69:30, Psalm 100:4 (notice how you enter His presence), Romans 1:21,

1 Cor. 15:57, 2 Cor. 9:15, Eph. 5:4, Phil. 4:6, Col. 2:6-7, Col. 3:15-17, 1 Thes. 5:18.

 

Love,

Holly