Giving Thanks

Donna Braman

Let Everything That Has Breath Praise His Holy Name!

GIVING THANKS IN EVERY SITUATION

Scripture:
1 Thessalonians 5:18


A life of praise may appeal to you.  But what does it really involve?  You may be puzzled about what it means to praise continually and give thanks always, in every situation.  Won't this lead to denying your true feelings?  Does it mean that when you stub your toe or hit your head, your spontaneous response has to be "thank you Lord?"  Why do we have to say something we don't really feel?

The bible doesn't command manufacturing positive feelings.  Instead, it commands us to give THANKS!  It is not hypocritical to give thanks when you don't feel like it; it's obedience.

This does not mean you should deny your negative thoughts and feelings and attitudes, sweeping them under the emotional rug.  It doesn't mean you should put them in the closet again and again, so they can sneak back in and make you make unwise decisions.

King David wrote honestly about his feelings, facing them and telling them to God, and praised and gave thanks in the midst of them. David told God how troubled his heart was.  But as he did so, he honored God, speaking of him as "the living God...my God... the God of my life...my present help in trouble." His every word showed his desire to exalt and glorify God, even as he was chased by the enemy. He assured his soul that he would be delivered from his troubles. Psalm 43 is written in a similar way, "Oh God...the God of my strength, God, my exceeding joy."

SEED WORD:
Can we have joy in these times?  Absolutely!  Because in a situation that looks hopeless we have to take our eye off what we see in the natural and know that God has already gone ahead of us and made a way. Trusting in the Lord to deliver us gives us a great deal to be thankful for.  You can triumph in your tribulations when you have hope and thankfulness and that is what produces good things from God, for that kind of thankfulness and praise is God's delight.   Romans 8:22-23  and 5:2,3,11.