by David Brenneman
Give thanks with a grateful heart,
give thanks to the Holy One;
give thanks, because he’s given
Jesus Christ, his Son.
Give thanks with a grateful heart,
give thanks to the Holy One;
give thanks, because he’s given
Jesus Christ, his Son.
And now let the weak say ‘I am strong’,
let the poor say ‘I am rich’,
because of what the Lord has done for us;
and now let the weak say ‘I am strong’,
let the poor say ‘I am rich’,
because of what the Lord has done for us.
Give thanks…
-Henry Smith 1978. "Give Thanks"
Are there dangers in getting excited? There can be if it's for the wrong reasons.
When we forget to thank God in our excitement for what He's doing or has done, it's a slippery slope. Many times we read in the Old Testament of the almost countless times the people didn't remember to be thankful.
The good, the bad and the ugly truth is giving thanks is still on each of us daily. Remembering isn't always easy.
In a few days there's likely to be presents opened. Excitement is a probability. Even for some, a measure of disappointment, in not getting something they really wanted.
"in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
Everything, much like the definition of all, is completely encompassing. All means all and that's all all means. Everything means everything and that's what everything means.
When you feel like it and when you don't.
We are always in the right position when we're coming at life with thanksgiving.
Remembering the real reason for Christmas ought to bring you closer to a thankful heart.
"Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms." Psalms 95:2.
"I will give You thanks with all my heart;
I will sing praises to You before the gods.
I will bow down toward Your holy temple
And give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
For You have magnified Your word according to all Your name." Psalms 138:1-2.
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6.
In your praying for this or that, remember what you have to be thankful for.
Possessions are a fleeting thing. They are for but a moment. They either meet our expectations or they don't. What's rather interesting is how possessions often reveal the heart. They can cause idolatry to shine like the sun to where the person in question cannot see it themselves. They can reveal a heart of compassion as well.
When we get to that moment in the future, when what our lives revealed about our life in Christ, thankfulness is what's to come next. The crown we receive is given back to Jesus out of thanksgiving for all He did for us, to us and through us.
Before you let the potential excitement get the best of you...take a moment to consider all that the Savior has been to you this year. He only wants your relationship to get deeper and stronger in the remaining years you have until either He calls you home or He returns.
Give thanks with a grateful heart...
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
No comments:
Post a Comment