We know we should be thankful, but times are hard and our lives are messed up. Why should we be thankful?
"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV.
THANKS
We should give thanks because it is the right thing to do. Whatever our circumstances are there are blessings we have that we should be thankful for. We may suffer loss and personal disaster but we must look for the other things in our lives we can be grateful for.
ALL
We are prone to be grateful when things are going well, but here the Bible instructs us to give thanks in all circumstances, whether those situations are good or bad.
GIVE THANKS
This is an active phrase that commands us to do something. To actively give thanks is to tell God, "Thank you." We have to make it a point to offer the prayer and the praise of thankfulness.
GOD'S WILL
Many of us wonder what God wants us to do with our lives, and we often ask, "What is God's will for me?" The answer: it is His will that we are thankful people.
CIRCUMSTANCES
When we give thanks to God in bad dark times it is a reaffirmation that He is God. It says God is good, wise, loving, and merciful. If He is loving and all-powerful then He allows each circumstance for good. This is not positive thinking- it is faith. When disaster comes we can thank Him because the God of All Good is involved.
It is not the circumstance that we are thankful for, not the loss or hurt; but the God who is in control and who is working all things out for our good.*
PERSPECTIVE
Much of what we call bad circumstances is a matter of perspective. We see from our limited view the short focus of the immediate.
The ultimate example is the death of the Son of God, Jesus, in his prime and at the height of his ministry. His was a life of perfect beauty and ultimate love. What looked like disaster brought salvation for mankind for God placed our wrongs on him and gives the virtue of his righteousness and salvation to those who by faith receive it.
This principle is woven in scripture that what we think is defeat is for God is really victory. We can always give thanks no matter how dark the situation because The God of love and all power is in control.
* Romans 8:28.
To learn more about finding salvation follow this link.
"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV.
THANKS
We should give thanks because it is the right thing to do. Whatever our circumstances are there are blessings we have that we should be thankful for. We may suffer loss and personal disaster but we must look for the other things in our lives we can be grateful for.
ALL
We are prone to be grateful when things are going well, but here the Bible instructs us to give thanks in all circumstances, whether those situations are good or bad.
GIVE THANKS
This is an active phrase that commands us to do something. To actively give thanks is to tell God, "Thank you." We have to make it a point to offer the prayer and the praise of thankfulness.
GOD'S WILL
Many of us wonder what God wants us to do with our lives, and we often ask, "What is God's will for me?" The answer: it is His will that we are thankful people.
CIRCUMSTANCES
When we give thanks to God in bad dark times it is a reaffirmation that He is God. It says God is good, wise, loving, and merciful. If He is loving and all-powerful then He allows each circumstance for good. This is not positive thinking- it is faith. When disaster comes we can thank Him because the God of All Good is involved.
It is not the circumstance that we are thankful for, not the loss or hurt; but the God who is in control and who is working all things out for our good.*
PERSPECTIVE
Much of what we call bad circumstances is a matter of perspective. We see from our limited view the short focus of the immediate.
The ultimate example is the death of the Son of God, Jesus, in his prime and at the height of his ministry. His was a life of perfect beauty and ultimate love. What looked like disaster brought salvation for mankind for God placed our wrongs on him and gives the virtue of his righteousness and salvation to those who by faith receive it.
This principle is woven in scripture that what we think is defeat is for God is really victory. We can always give thanks no matter how dark the situation because The God of love and all power is in control.
* Romans 8:28.
To learn more about finding salvation follow this link.
