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The concept of faith and prayer
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What Are You Thankful For?
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Recently I saw a cartoon that showed a man out walking a dog. The question above them was “What are you thankful for?” The dog is shown thinking, “Everything”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. The Bible tells us to give thanks for all things. But how? When things are going well, it is easy to give thanks. But what about when things seem hard for you and falling apart? Is it possible to give thanks amid troubles?
LISTEN TO THE PSALMIST—BE HONEST WITH THE LORD
You know how it can be. Sometimes things pile up on you. You feel stretched, pressed and tired. Things are not going right. Through gloomy things in the world and the stress, apprehension, in your own life, you find it hard to get out of the funk. You have heard that giving praise and thanks can bring blessings. But how do you do this? Giving thanks is the last thing on your mind.
Look at what the Psalmist does here.
(1) In his funk, he starts by being honest with God.
1 As a hart longs for flowing streams, so longs my soul for thee, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me continually, "Where is your God?"
He is saying, “I need you, God! I want a touch of the living God in my life. I am going through a lot. I have lots of tears. It is hard, and even more so because someone is rubbing it in. ‘So where’s your God in all this that you are going through? You say He’s real. Well, where is He?’”
Sometimes your troubles and your distress can feel like a storm cloud over you. Or like an undercurrent that keeps pulling you under. You find yourself ...
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...mething. “Here look at the card that goes with the bouquet.” The note read, “Dear God, I have thanked You a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my thorns. Teach me the value of my thorns; teach me the glory of the cross I bear. Show me that I have climbed closer to You along the path of pain. Show me that, through my tears, the colors of Your rainbow look much more brilliant.”
Paul tells us to be 20 always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. (Ephesians 5)
As Thanksgiving approaches, we are reminded to give thanks in all things, even in the midst of troubles. Psalm 42 gives clues how:
1) Start by being honest with God
2) Give thanks for the times the LORD has blessed you
3) Remember the present power and presence of the LORD
4) Trust and thank the LORD, who brings God’s victory