Am I thankful?
Rejoice always and delight in your faith;
be unceasing and persistent in prayer;
in every situation [no matter what the circumstances], be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (Amplified Bible)
When was the last time you prayed for no other reason but to tell God everything you are thankful for and praise Him for His faithfulness?
Perspective is a very curious thing. With no change in our circumstances, it can completely change our attitude about the events occurring in our lives. Whether an event is good or bad, whether a person is honest or deceitful, whether I am being punished or protected, whether I settle for what is good or what is best, or whether something is helpful or harmful.
When Joseph was to be killed by his brothers, then sold into slavery, and then wrongfully imprisoned for many years, one can assume there were days when he wondered why God would allow these evil acts to impact his life. His response:
When Job lost all that he had in this life through no fault of his own, he was encouraged by his wife to curse God and die. His response:
His wife said to him, "Are you still trying to be godly when God has done all this to you? Curse him and die." But he replied, "You talk like some heathen woman. What? Shall we receive only pleasant things from the hand of God and never anything unpleasant?" So in all this, Job said nothing wrong. - Job 2:9-10 (Living Bible)
In this fallen world, our faith will be tested by adversity, including evil senseless acts that may cause us to doubt the goodness of God or His Omnipotence. Although we will not be thankful for the evil acts inspired by Satan, as transformed followers of Christ, our response is to thank God for His faithfulness to sustain us through these difficult times with a focus on how He is allowing these events to enter our lives to transform us into Christlikeness. The continual giving of thanks to God for His goodness changes our perspective and allows us to dwell on His attributes rather than the adversity we are facing.
The main thing, is to keep the main thing, the main thing - Steven Covey
What should be our main thing?
From the Westminster Shorter Catechism of 1648...
What is the chief end of man?
This Scripturally-saturated, time-tested pedagogical device very simply informs us that we are to live our daily lives happily, for God's glory alone: "Soli Deo Gloria," and never for our own glory.
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his loving-kindness continues forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods, for his loving-kindness continues forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his loving-kindness continues forever.
Praise him who alone does mighty miracles, for his loving-kindness continues forever.
Praise him who made the heavens, for his loving-kindness continues forever.
Praise him who planted the water within the earth, for his loving-kindness continues forever.
Praise him who made the heavenly lights, for his loving-kindness continues forever:
The sun to rule the day, for his loving-kindness, continues forever; and the moon and stars at night, for his loving-kindness, continues forever. - Psalm 136:1-9 (Living Bible)
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning, new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me. - Thomas Chisholm
Be Encouraged to execute life with the proper perspective and a thankful spirit.
-Jeffrey Thornton
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