Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence.
Know this: GOD is God, and God, GOD.
He made us; we didn't make him.
We're his people, his well-tended sheep.
Enter with the password: "Thank you!"
Make yourselves at home, talking praise.
Thank him. Worship him.
For GOD is sheer beauty, all -generous in love, loyal always and ever.
Psalm 100 The Message
Three of our children received their school reports yesterday. As I read them, all I could do was say, 'Thank you God for your restoration in their lives. Thank you for bringing them through some very difficult times. Thank you that they are thriving, each in their own unique way. It is only by your grace. Thank you.'
Yes, it is easy to thank God when things in life is going well. But what about when they are not going well. How do you thank God when a doctor has just told you that 'There is a mass in your daughter's brain'? Well, for me, I couldn't thank God - not right then.
Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will]. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 AMP
It took three days for me to come to a place where I could say thank you God - not for the tumour as that wasn't from Him - but thank you for all that He had done before that diagnosis - things that He had put in place to help us through those three days. Some of those things had seemed like just every day things, like just having done a lot of cooking so the freezer was full of food. Some were more a definite God intervention, like my Mother getting her passport back the day before we received the news about Victoria, so she was able to come over immediately from New Zealand. Some of them God had been working on for years, such as placing us in this neighbourhood, developing strategic friendships which would alert us to Victoria being unwell.
He is a good God. There is always plenty to thank Him for.
I will thank You and confide in You forever, because You have done it [delivered me and kept me safe]. I will wait on, hope in and expect in Your name, for it is good, in the presence of Your saints (Your kind and pious ones). Psalm 52:9 AMP
Question for today, when was the last time you took time to give God a heartfelt thanks for all He has done for you? If you are looking at your life and finding it difficult for something to thank God for, maybe start with the basics - a warm, dry home, running water, food to eat, the blessing of living in a country that isn't at war and lets not forget the biggie - eternal life - the promise of living forever with God in heaven because of what Jesus did for us. It doesn't take time for that Thank You list to grow. And then, in Godly confidence, thank Him for what He will do.
And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ's] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always]. Colossians 3:15 AMP
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