Thankful...In All Things!

It's hard to be thankful in all things. It's easy to be thankful when God says YES to our plans, but what about when He says NO? Our sin keeps us radically self-focused rather than radically God-focused. But a thankful heart is not that way. A thankful heart is God-centred, not self-centred; A thankful heart is humbly submitted to God's sovereign purpose in all things; A thankful heart is overwhelmed by God's sovereign grace. And it results in prayer! Not prayer for Joe's toe, and Jane's pain, and Jack's back, but prayer that God would be glorified in bringing to fruition the promises of His Word. This is what God's Word teaches us in 2 Samuel 7!

So where is your heart this day? Are you thankful in all things? I realize that many are going through trials, and it is difficult, if not impossible to "count it all joy" and be thankful "in all things." But there is a promise of God for every need of your life!

Do you need freedom from guilt? 1 John 1:9
Do you feel lonely? Matthew 28:20
Do you need assurance? John 10:27-28
Are you troubled? John 14:27
Do you have financial pressures? Matthew 6:31-33
Are you struggling with powerful temptations? 1 Corinthians 10:13

Whatever our need, it is covered by a promise of God. Whatever your circumstance, you can have hope and be filled with thanksgiving because our God is the sovereign God who always acts in grace toward His own. Take His promises and turn them into prayer for His glory.

I know what you're thinking; "been there - done that...why don't I see any of these promises fulfilled in my life?" Ask yourself why do you want your problems solved? Is it so that you can be comfortable and happy? Or is it so that God will be glorified and His name magnified through you? God is not interested in meeting all our needs so that we can lead happy self-centred lives. He wants us to be focused on Him not ourselves; He wants us to submit to His sovereign purpose; He wants us to be in awe of His grace in Christ toward us. Then from a thankful heart, He wants us to pray into reality His abundant promises so that He will be magnified.

Love in the Truth.