|
"Always
be joyful. Keep on
praying. No matter
what happens, always
be thankful, for this
is God's will for you
who belong to Christ
Jesus."
(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
GIVE
THANKS WITH A GREAT
FULL HEART
'It's
easier to give thanks
when times are good
or the weather is sunny
and warm and the birds
are singing. Just this
morning I was rejoicing
in the beautiful sunrise
with the intoxicating
perfume of spring. The
blossoms were coming
out, bulbs were breaking
the surface after a
winter of sleep and
everyone's countenance
seemed brighter. It
would be hard not to
give thanks.
But
what about those cold
winter days? Not just
outside, but in your
soul. When times are
tough, when your health
is poor and your situation
seems hopeless. Can
we still be thankful?
Read
today's Scripture verse
slowly and let it sink
into your heart. 'Always'
'Keep on' 'No matter
what' urges the writer.
Suffering produces perseverance,
perseverance produces
character and character
produces hope.
I
spoke with a godly woman
a while ago. I was explaining
to her a situation in
my life that was always
a source of grief. She
turned my focus aro
und
to be thankful in this
situation. "Thank
God for sending this
moment into your life
so you can learn patience
and perseverance. Thank
God that the moment
is teaching you how
to love unconditionally.
How God is refining
you like pure gold.
Thank
Him that He is removing
the dross from your
life.
I had never seen it
from this perspective
and quite frankly it
was liberating. I was
able to go through a
whole list with God
on what I needed to
confess then asked the
Holy Spirit to open
my spiritual eyes for
renewal.
It ain't easy, it's
hard. Our narcissistic
society encourages the
"Me" generation,
Christ, though He was
God, came to serve and
asks us to trust Him
and do the same. We
need to remind ourselves
of this daily, every
minute really, and we
need to be immersed
in the God who will
show us the way to be
like Him. Let the Great
One fill your heart
to overflowing, spilling
on every aspect of your
life.
DF
Rejoice
in the Lord Always!
Dario
Ferko
|
