READ Ephesians 5:15-21
Why would God command us to thank Him regardless of the circumstances? The idea defies human logic. But then, the Lord rarely binds Himself to man-made rules. Scriptural principles serve specific purposes in the Christian’s life.
Gratitude keeps us aware of God’s presence, which builds our trust and ultimately strengthens our peace. We must realize that thankfulness is not based on emotions or a situation’s outcome. We can be grateful, even during trials, because the Lord has promised to work everything for our good. (Romans 8:28)
That means He has a purpose for every experience,pleasant or difficult. A big problem stacked against our small resources sends us running to Him, thankful He has committed to work it to our benefit. The believer’s part is to trust God will bring good from trials and to seek to discover His plan, which gives further reason for thanking Him.
LEARN
- Understanding His intentions renews our strength for facing difficult trials.
- Expressing gratefulness changes our attitude about God, ourselves, and our situations. Most people allow hurt and stress to form a pessimistic mindset, which negatively impacts every facet of their life.
- We have God’s Spirit working within us to provide courage a flow of thanksgiving. Ask Him.
QUOTE
“In ordinary life we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich. It is very easy to overestimate the importance of our own achievements in comparison with what we owe others.” —Dietrich Bonhoeffer
DO
Look at one of the problems you are enduring. Ask yourself what spiritual purpose could possibly come out of this situation. The spiritual purpose may be for another as well as you. That is the target you want to keep you eyes upon. That is the result you want to see achieved.