Day 2 - Week 69 - 1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

 Give thanks in everything....

It is July 4th, 2012...I live in the United States of America.  And today I am thankful that 236 years ago some very courageous men declared that this new land would become independent from foreign rule.  Through these many years, the United States has grown into the most powerful nation in the world.  I believe that this has happened under the hand of God's blessing, in order to accomplish things in this world that would not have happened without the formation of this country of ours.  No matter your political views, you have to acknowledge that the United States has been a source of blessing throughout the world, bringing aid to countries in times of disaster, befriending nations whose own rulers have turned on them with slaughterous outcomes.  The United States has been a beacon of freedom, showing that people can live successfully without the need for tyrannical rule.   

I pray that we will remember what our forefathers envisioned...the land of the free and the brave.   A land that continues to understand the importance of freedom and a land that knows when that indefinable line has been crossed that causes us to take a stand to defend the weak and the helpless.

I pray that my grandchildren will grow up living as I have, knowing that they have the freedom to push as hard as they desire to achieve whatever goals they set before themselves.  I pray that they will not be robbed of the chance to achieve for themselves rather than depending on someone else to provide for their welfare.  Should they fall on hard times, I pray that they will have family, friends and fellow Christians who will help them through those times. 

I pray that I am being that kind of American today...looking out for the person who may need my help, my compassion, my spirit of generosity.  For I believe America was founded by those who cared more for others than for themselves, more for the people of the future than for their lives of the day. 

I pray that those in America who do not yet know Jesus Christ as their Savior will come into that relationship, for I believe when hearts are turned toward Him they are turned to love others in a way that cannot be duplicated without the Spirit of Christ---and that kind of love is what blesses the world.

God bless America!  And let us, in turn, bless this world to His glory!

Day 1 - Week 69 - 1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

In our trilogy of verses of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, this is the last.  And this is our last directive on how to be a joyful Christian.  To be joyful, we need to be thankful...and just like we are to rejoice always, we are to thankful in everything.  That's all inclusive, doesn't leave a day of our lives out.  Doesn't give us the wiggle room to say, "I'm just not in a good mood", or, "Can't be thankful on a day like today"...Paul tells us, "Doesn't matter what's going on...give thanks anyway!"

For as Christians, we are to put today's less-than-perfect events in eternal perspective, and we are to remember that "God's will for us in Christ Jesus" is to be thankful.  For Jesus has given us a gift that overrides any temporary problem --- He has given us restored relationship with God, by providing for our forgiveness, and through that restored relationship, with the forgiveness that comes with it, we are promised eternal life in the triune presence of God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. 

When we feel ourselves being pulled away from a spirit of thankfulness, we should stop and analyze where our thoughts are dwelling.  Are we meditating on what God has already done for us, or are we focusing on the earthly things that we may feel we have missed out on enjoying?   Bigger homes, fun vacations, cooler cars?  Even when we are focusing on things that matter so much to us...family issues, friends' problems, tragedies that we don't understand...are we allowing God's Spirit to bring us His sense of peace and giving Him thanks for His presence knowing that He is already working on our behalf when we raise our voices to Him, or do we rather stubbornly hold on to our feelings of disappointment and hurt, refusing to trust God in a spirit of thankfulness?

I'm not saying it's easy --- when we go through hard times that we don't understand, it's hard to say, "Thanks!"  But when we go through those times trusting God, then we can say, "Thank you Jesus for giving me this relationship of trust in a God who knows everything that is happening in my life, who hears my pleas, who knows my needs and who has shown me just how much He loves me...through You."

Rejoice always.  Pray constantly.  Give thanks in everything.

See a pattern here...Spirit-enabled consistency!  Result:  J-O-Y!