1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
If you are truly a follower of God, this is the #1 thing you've got to get to the root of in your life. *Give thanks in All circumstances.
It isn't always easy to be thankful in all circumstances, because to be honest some circumstances are rotten, they hurt, and they aren't fair. I don't know about you, but when things go wrong I have the ability to throw a pity party for myself that would rival the size of the Royal Wedding! So, this is one of those verses that I've read before, and thought hmmm.... well that's nice, but I'd never really pondered it, or applied it to my life.
So we're clear, God doesn't do us harm. Satan is the one you can thank for all that. God allows us to go through tests in our life, but it is always His plan to bring you prosperity, and to make you better than you were in the first place. So, we're supposed to give Him thanks in everything. Gene shared with us that last week was a really difficult week for him, his garage caught on fire & burned down, someone vandalized his yard, and then someone working on something else struck the main water line in the yard, and water shot twenty feet in the air, & flooded the yard. He said that he told his wife, that they needed to pray, and be thankful in these circumstances. Everything we have is already His, so if He wants them to continue to be able to live on that property, then He'll have to take care of these problems that have arisen or lead them to another solution. Sunday night, I put this revolutionary way of thinking into practice, because of course it just so happened that morning sickness decided to go from bad to hideously ugly. As I lay on my bathroom floor I prayed, "God I give you praise in this situation. This body belongs to You, and if You want me to be able to use it to work and serve You, then I must have some healing because You know I can't even function like this, but if I can better complete Your plan for me by continuing to go through this, then show me how to do it with a graceful spirit and grateful heart." I'm so thankful we live in this age of medicine where there is so much that can be done to help eliminate or minimize our suffering. Compared to how I was feeling, I'm a different person, but I know the reason I'm better is because God has a job for me to do that requires me being up and about. It's a lot easier to thank Him now for making me so much better, the other night it wasn't as easy, however after I did it I felt a great sense of inner peace and strength.
Right now I have several friends that are going through really bad marriage trouble, and some have even had to go through divorce. It breaks my heart so much for them. I would love to be able to give them some truly comforting, sound, Biblical advice that would make it more bearable. I don't want anyone to misunderstand, I don't want people to think I want them to say things like, "Thank you for my divorce." God didn't create divorce, but He will see you through the storms of doubt and depression that it brings to your mind. He is the one that can heal you, and give you an endless capacity to love. Thank Him for never wavering, and for never leaving your side even when everyone else has.
Whatever test you may be going through, Give thanks. It may not change the circumstance you are going through, but it will change the way you feel about it!
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