It takes time to get to the point of gratitude.īut hear these words: In Romans 5 Paul rejoices in suffering. Some days it may feel totally impossible. Note, all circumstances encompass everything-not just the good stuff! Gratitude is easy when you’re told the cancer is gone, but what if it comes back? If your child makes the soccer team, you celebrate, but what if he’s cut? Marrying someone you love is a gift, but is heartbreak? Friend, it is hard to give thanks in all circumstances. Instead, we’re told to give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Real gratitude doesn’t allow picking and choosing what we’re thankful for. Hudson, NIV, Once-a-Day: At the Table Family Devotional, Ebook (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012). If we as a family learn to praise God in all circumstances, we will grow closer to him. We can still mention them in prayer, no matter how long ago we received them. There’s no expiration date on God’s blessings. He’ll help us see concerned friends, committed doctors, caring teachers and other resources we may not have noticed.Įven if we can’t see what God is doing in our lives now, we can thank him for the things he’s done in the past. If we have trouble seeing beyond the bad in our lives, we can ask God to open our eyes to the things he’s doing that we can’t see. There are thing to be thankful for in all circumstances. It turns out the apostle Paul wasn’t joking. “Give thanks in all circumstances”? Is that even possible, or was the apostle Paul trying to make some ironic point to the Thessalonians? People can’t really give thanks when they’ve just lost their jobs, can they? Or when they’ve just been told they have cancer? Or when they are being bullied at school? There is nothing to be thankful for in any of those circumstances, is there? 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (NIV) “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” How is this even possible?.How will you show God gratitude today? - Thomas Nelson, 100 Days of Thanks (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2018). The next few mornings, read Psalm 100 to begin your day. Why? Because He is good, His love never fails, and He is faithful. We are to shout with joy, worship Him with gladness, sing for joy, acknowledge His greatness, and enter His presence with thanksgiving.
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Psalm 100 is a beautiful example of how to thank our Lord. The book of Psalms is bursting with praise and adoration for God, but only one psalm is singled out as a psalm of thanksgiving. What application do you find in this Psalm?.Jon Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary: Volume Two: Psalms-Malachi (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2006), 123. Why is He pleasured? Because people become like that which they worship (Psalm 115:4–8). We exist for His pleasure (Revelation 4:11). Why are we to worship Him? Yes, there are benefits and blessings for us-but, ultimately, it comes down to the fact that He is God. Morgan, 100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart (Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 2010). “The Lord has given me joy,” was her testimony. But those words from Psalm 100 never died in her heart. Just because we’re here doesn’t mean we can’t serve Him with gladness, so let’s serve the Lord with gladness.” That night Martin was shot and killed, and Gracia was wounded in the firefight. One night Martin said, “You know, Gracia, I don’t know why the Lord has allowed this to happen, but today I’ve been thinking about Psalm 100, how we can serve the Lord with gladness. She said that near the end of their ordeal, one of the passages of Scripture that sustained them was Psalm 100. Martin was killed, but Gracia lived to tell the story. During their year in captivity, they faced near starvation and were sometimes caught in the middle of gun battles. Several years ago Martin and Gracia Burnham were serving with New Tribes Mission when they were kidnapped by terrorists. Gladatude and gratitude are appropriate for every situation in life. What do we learn about gratitude from this passage? What is one thing you are grateful for today? DIG