"T" is for Thanksgiving
Ephesians 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
The blessedness of giving thanks to the Lord cannot be overemphasized. Whatever the situation, whether it be filled with joy, or filled with sadness and even despair, we are told to give thanks to God.
The Bible tells us to do such simple yet often difficult task. To give God thanks, first of all, is an act of worship and obedience - we are commanded to do so. But giving thanks also implies trust in God; trust that He will do what His Word promises; trust that He will answer that seemingly impossible prayer request; and trust that "all things work together for good."
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Throughout the Old Testament, particularly in the Psalms, we are told repeatedly to give thanks and praise to God. A good example of this instruction appears in Psalm 50:14-15 - where the psalmist reminds us to " offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorify me." Here we see a direct link between giving thanks to God, calling upon Him in trouble, and then, witnessing His mighty deliverance in and through a difficult place.
If you remember Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow down and woship an earthly king, they were thrown into the fiery furnace. But they trusted God to deliver them - and He did! In fact, they came out of the intense fire and heat without their bodies or clothing being burned, without their hair being singed or even the smell of smoke clinging to them.
As we give thanks to God, something mysterious happens. It is as though we place our hand in His and provide an open door for Him to work.
The blessedness of giving thanks to the Lord cannot be overemphasized. Whatever the situation, whether it be filled with joy, or filled with sadness and even despair, we are told to give thanks to God.
The Bible tells us to do such simple yet often difficult task. To give God thanks, first of all, is an act of worship and obedience - we are commanded to do so. But giving thanks also implies trust in God; trust that He will do what His Word promises; trust that He will answer that seemingly impossible prayer request; and trust that "all things work together for good."
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Throughout the Old Testament, particularly in the Psalms, we are told repeatedly to give thanks and praise to God. A good example of this instruction appears in Psalm 50:14-15 - where the psalmist reminds us to " offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorify me." Here we see a direct link between giving thanks to God, calling upon Him in trouble, and then, witnessing His mighty deliverance in and through a difficult place.
If you remember Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow down and woship an earthly king, they were thrown into the fiery furnace. But they trusted God to deliver them - and He did! In fact, they came out of the intense fire and heat without their bodies or clothing being burned, without their hair being singed or even the smell of smoke clinging to them.
As we give thanks to God, something mysterious happens. It is as though we place our hand in His and provide an open door for Him to work.
posted by mS eLoVe | 8:33 PM
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