This morning’s devotion is an excerpt from the Leadership link on our website. You can view this current study in its entirety by visiting Leadership link.
God Will Complete His Plan for You (Jeremiah 29:11-13) Jeremiah 29:11-13, For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. God spoke to His captive people in Babylon through Jeremiah. His announcement was that they would seek and find Him when they did so with all their hearts. That principle remains to this day. God hears the fervent prayer of His people. Those who seek God with all of their hearts will find him—to this day. The Lord promised the people that His plans for them were not to harm them, but rather to bring them peace and prosperity. Note that God’s plan offered them a very bright hope and future. If the people placed their trust in the Lord, He would deliver them from their captivity in Babylon and return them to the promised land. God could have promised them no greater hope and future. When Mike Foscolos returned to his destroyed California home after recent fires, he discovered a reminder of God's love for him despite the tragic circumstances. Foscolos was evacuated Saturday, October 25th when fires burned dangerously close to his home. He returned that evening to find a pile of smoldering black ash where his home once had been. As he surveyed the scene with his flashlight, Foscoloso saw a piece of paper fluttering through the air like a butterfly. He stepped on the paper with his foot to hold it down, and realized it was a singed page from his own Bible. Foscolos said, "It was the first Bible I received as a new Christian and I had saved it in the garage." The surviving page contained a message of hope from (Jeremiah 29:11-13). The passage read, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." Mr. Foscolos plans to have the page framed to keep in his rebuilt home as a testimony. God promised in this passage, "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." God desires that we give Him whole-hearted effort with all our heart (Deuteronomy 4:29; II Chronicles 15:15; II Chronicles 31:21; Psalm 119:10). PRAYER: Father in Heaven I know the thoughts and plans You have for me are for Your glory and for my good. Whatever I may face today, I can expect that You are working for good in all of it. So, I’m going to step forward in faith, trusting You in all things and seeking to cooperate fully with Your plans for me. I know I can’t possibly imagine all the good You have planned for my life, but I also know it’s all coming in Jesus’ name, so I can say, Amen! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com
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Spiritually Cold (Matthew 24:9-12) – PART 2
Matthew 24:9-12, Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him. It was a cold evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastor's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a big chair near the fireplace and waited. The pastor made himself comfortable but said nothing. In the grave silence, he watched the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host was captivated as he watched all this in silence. As the one lone ember's flame diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead. Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. Just before the pastor was ready to leave, he picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it. As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said, "Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday." Love must be protected and cultivated if it is to be kept alive. Just because we love God today does not mean that we will do so tomorrow. Jesus told us that in strenuous situations many hearts will grow cold. Keep your heart warm toward the Lord today, or tomorrow you may find it has grown cold. True involvement consists of fellowship. Fellowship is never something done alone. One reason church is so important is because of the fellowship with other Christians. You miss out when you miss a service and neglect the assembling at church. The Lord often sends His messengers to nudge others awake. Sometimes the methods used to awaken them are drastic, but always for their good. Let us not imagine that because He shakes us, He therefore hates us. He awakens us from lethargy because He loves us, and wants to save our lives from apathy, waste, and ineffectiveness. Many offer excuses hindering their involvement with others. Here are ten: 1. I can't help anyone, I don't know what to do. 2. I'm too busy or too tired. 3. It's not worth the trouble. 4. I don't need anyone. 5. No one needs me. 6. I'm afraid I'll get burned or taken advantage of. 7. It's none of my business. 8. I might look foolish. 9. I'm too shy. 10. I don’t have time. Questions to Consider: Is the Lord trying to wake you up? Have you lost your compassion for others, for those who are unsaved or hurting? Points to Ponder: Guard your heart from waxing cold due to sin and spiritual neglect. When sin is not abruptly acknowledged and attacked, it will chill our affections for Jesus. PRAYER: Father, my desire is to draw nigh unto You. May my nearness to You fill my heart with Your love and increase the fervor of my love for You. Help my love for You to abound more and more and that it never grows cold. In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Spiritually Cold (Matthew 24:9-12) – PART 1
Matthew 24:9-12, Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. A man huddled on a cabin floor was slowly freezing to death. It was high in the Rockies in southwestern Alberta, and outside a blizzard raged. John Elliott had logged miles that day through the deep snow of the mountain passes. As he checked for avalanches, and as dusk and exhaustion overcame him, he decided to rest. He made it wearily to his cabin, but somewhat dazed with fatigue, he did not light a fire or remove his wet clothing. As the blizzard blasted through the cracks in the old cabin walls, the sleeping forest ranger sank into oblivion, paralyzed by the pleasure of the storm's icy caress. He began the gentle downward spiral of hypothermia. Suddenly, however, his dog sprang into action, and with unrelenting whines, finally managed to rouse his near-comatose friend. The dog was John's constant companion, a St. Bernard, one of a long line of dogs famous for their heroics in times of crisis. "If that dog hadn't been with me, I'd be dead today," John Elliott says. "When you're freezing to death you actually feel warm all over, and don't wake up because it feels too good." This illustrates the spiritual condition of many Christians today. They are cold spiritually, and sadly, are oblivious of their true condition. Thank God for all the ways in which He arouses such sleepers. Christ warns the believer who lets their love grow cold. As sin increases, the love of many will become cold. We must not allow ourselves to be deceived by the apostasy of others. When iniquity abounds among those who profess to be followers of Christ, and those who once appeared to burn with love and zeal for his name have become altogether indifferent to it, let us seek the company and companionship of those who yet seek to honor our Master, lest we be under the influence by the poison that is in the hearts of the apostate. The pollution spoken of here is not the pollution that environmentalists get upset about, it is the pollution God gets upset about, namely, "iniquity." The pollution of apostasy corrupts the environment more than any other pollution. There are several things can dampen one's love for God. Here are a three: 1. Materialism: Many will seek what they want and what the world offers instead of sacrificing and serving. They just choose to satisfy their own desires and worldly urges instead of seeking diligently after God. 2. Dissension: Many just cool off and back away even if the truth is under attack, some will withdraw rather than take a stand for the truth. 3. Persecution: Many go through a sinking of spirit and affection simply because they cannot understand why God would let such trials happen. Only a real belief and conviction will stand up under ridicule. PRAYER: Father, help me guard my heart from waxing cold due to sin and spiritual neglect. Help me to crave a fervent desire for You when things are going bad and the world seems to be caving in. In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Confident Hope (Psalm 71:5)
Psalm 71:5, For thou art my hope, O LORD God: thou art my trust from my youth. Worry is a universal human experience. Our brains constantly provoke us to evaluate our circumstances and identify threats to our well-being. Threats are many, but even when they are minor, we exaggerate them or imagine threats that do not exist. We leave ourselves with restlessness, sleeplessness, loss of appetite, short tempers, and feelings of hopelessness. We are creatures of hope and need hope to live lest we lose the desire to live and just give up. It was in the psychology department of Duke University that a very enlightening experiment was conducted with laboratory rats. They wanted to see how long these rats could swim. Two containers were prepared with one container having a possible way of escape and the other having none. The rat in the container with no way of escape swam a few moments and then ducked his head into the water and drowned. The rat in the container with a possibility of escape, with hope, swam for several hours before drowning. The conclusion of their experiment was, "As long as there is hope, there is life." Hope is so important to us. When our hope is delayed, it is even painful to us. Hope, we talk about it and hear the word used frequently, but what does it mean? The American Heritage dictionary defined hope as: a wish for something with expectation; a desire accompanied with confident expectation; a happy anticipation of good. Normally we use the word hope to express something uncertain. Our salvation in Christ is called a hope, not because it is uncertain, but because we do not yet enjoy the fulness of it (Romans 8:24-25). Salvation in Jesus Christ is exactly the opposite of this. In reference to the Christian life, the Bible word “hope” means certain, sure, confident salvation. As believer’s we can be absolutely certain our sin has been forgiven and that we have eternal life. There is no hope apart from God. A person without Christ is a person with "no hope" (Ephesians 2:12). In spite of his troubles, the psalmist still finds hope in God. If you can trust anyone, it is God. His Word is true and always reliable. The psalmist was not ashamed to freely admit that the Lord had been his hope and trust from his youth. He was now advanced in years and still held that conviction. Hope is looking forward with anticipation. Trust is the confidence of the same. God desires the Christian to enjoy the comfort of knowing he is eternally safe in Jesus. Those who teach an uncertain salvation rob Christians of this priceless comfort. The true Christian cannot be robbed of his secure blessings in Christ, but he can be robbed of the comforting knowledge of these blessings in this life if not properly instructed. It is not God's will for the believer to be unsure about whether or not he possesses these things; rather it is His express will that we "abound in hope" (Romans 15:13). “Hope is the power of being cheerful in circumstances which we know to be desperate”. G.K. Chesterton Questions to Consider: · Are you developing a habit of trusting God in the difficult times of your life? · Or are you frequently filled with worry and doubt and fear? Points to Ponder: · If you have trouble trusting, concentrate on getting to know God. · Focus on what God has already done for you. PRAYER: Father, thank You for sending Your Son to be my hope. You knew that this world would never satisfy my longings, and so You sent Your precious Son to do that. Forgive me when I look to anything else for my hope, and thank You for the pain that reminds me when I have moved my hope into anything other than Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Fearless Faith (Psalm 27:1-3)
Psalm 27:1-3, The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. Michael Ramsden, a co-worker with Ravi Zacharias, shared the following true story about a minister from Iran. As the minister was driving with his wife, they stopped in a small Iranian village to purchase some water. Before entering, the minister noticed a man holding a machine gun and leaning against the wall outside the store. The minister's wife looked at the man's face and the gun, then put a Bible in her husband's hand and said, "Give that man this Bible." Her husband looked at the man—his menacing beard and his machine gun—and replied, "I don't think so." But she persisted: "I'm serious. Give it to him. Please, give him the Bible." Trying to avoid the issue, the husband said, "Okay, I'll pray about it." He went into the shop, purchased the water, climbed back into the car, and started to drive away. His wife looked at him and said, "I guess you didn't give him the Bible, did you?" Looking straight ahead, he replied, "No, I prayed about it and it wasn't the right thing to do." She quietly said, "You should have given him the Bible," and then she bowed her head and started praying. At that point, he turned around and told his wife, "Fine! If you want me to die, I will." When the minister returned to the store, the man with the machine gun was still standing against the wall. The minister approached him and placed the Bible in his hand. When the man opened it and saw it was a Bible, he started to cry. It turned out that the man did not live in the village. He was told by a stranger to walk to the village and to wait for someone to give him the Book of Life. After walking three days to the village, this soul-searching man was waiting for someone to approach him. He was thrilled when the pastor spoke to him and thanked the pastor for the Bible. The pastor became a courageous witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. Eventually, along with many other co-workers in the Iranian church, he was martyred for his faith in Christ. His testimony shined for the Lord. May we lose our fear of what man might do to us. II Timothy 1:7, For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. May the Lord help us to not be afraid to stand up for Him and share the message of God's Word with others. Be ready the next time He calls on you to witness for Him. Prayer: LORD, open a door for me today and give me the courage that I might have an opportunity to share Your glorious Gospel with someone today who is in deep need of You. Help give me understanding that would enable me to speak the words that You would have them to hear. Help me to be a bold, and yet, compassionate witness, without compromise, for You. In Jesus name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Finding Confident Hope (Psalm 42:5)
Psalm 42:5, Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. It has been said that man can live forty days without food, three days without water, and eight minutes without air, but only one second without hope. A scientific experiment by Duke University proved this to be true. A group of behavioral scientists put some rats in a tank of water and observed them to see how long they would survive before drowning. The average time was 17 minutes. The scientists repeated the experiment; but this time they rescued the rats just before the point of drowning, dried them off, and returned them to their cages. Then they fed the creatures, let them play for a few days, and repeated the drowning experiment. This time, the average survival time for these rats increased from 17 minutes to 36 hours. The scientists explained this by saying the second time around, the rats had hope. They believed that they could survive this hardship because they had done so before. It is very difficult to remain hopeful when you are depressed and everything you do seems doomed to fail. You can, however, overcome this situation with the Word of God. 1. Believe that God is greater than your circumstances and any problems that are weighing you down. Accept the victory in His holy name (Romans 8:37). Our hope is not in favorable circumstances, but in the God who brings these circumstances together. This hope gives us confidence that regardless of what challenges the next moment holds in store, we can survive because God has come through before. 2. Lay your concerns before the Father be in earnest and specific prayer. Pour out all of your problems before Him. You will be amazed at the results (Psalm 55:22). Whenever you hear about God answering someone’s prayer, whenever you see Him provide for their needs and satisfy their desires, it should give you hope that He will do the same in your life. 3.Believe steadfastly that God can and will achieve something glorious through this dark period in your life (Romans 8:28). Many people go through life without hope. Their hopelessness is seen in their negative outlook. Others have grown impatient and given up hope. They don’t believe they will ever see God come through for them. Then there are those who are full of hope. They see every blessing in their lives and in the lives of others as reason for hope in God. These people are confident that they will make it through their hardships because they’ve seen God do it before. Which person do you want to be? Make a conscience effort to turn your eyes away from yourself to see the world in need. God has a purpose for all things. God is still on the throne and He is still in control. Prayer: Father, I thank You for Your patience with me. I so easily close my ears to Your voice and listen to the voice of my circumstances, others who are not your children, and the voice of the Accuser. When I do this, I put my soul in turmoil. From the moment I wake to the moment I lay my head down to rest, may I place all of my hope in You alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com God is Faithful and Satan is Frustrated (Deuteronomy 7:9; James 4:7)
God is Faithful (Deuteronomy 7:9) Deuteronomy 7:9, Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; God is holy and just and faithful. Holiness is His fundamental attribute, and Christians should emulate Him and live pure lives. Today, God continues to pour out His blessings on us. Opportunities are opening for the ministry globally. Churches are being planted around the world. People are coming to the Lord. Souls are being won to Christ all over the world. Particularly, people in Muslim countries. All of this, we couldn't possibly orchestrate on our own without Him. God's doing it and we get to have a part in His work. Satan is Frustrated (James 4:7) James 4:7, Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. The existence of a personal Devil is scoffed at by many, and doubted by more. Modernists believe evil exists, but not an “evil one.” Satan is often regarded as an impersonal force, an imagination, a medieval invention designed to scare people into the “church,” or an excuse on which to blame our shortcomings. None of these is so, for the Bible clearly teaches the existence of a personal, malevolent, evil one, the Devil. It is the duty of each Christian ‘soldier’ to know as much about his or her adversary as possible II Corinthians 2:11. Ignorance on this subject is a dangerous thing. Satan knows his time is short. As a result, Satan scratches and claws. As the ministry impacts more lives, he roars. I John 4:4, Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. We have deepened our prayer life, helped each other resolve stress, and kept our eyes fixed on Christ. Christ destroyed the works of Satan in I John 3:8, He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. This means that God has frustrated, or undone, the works of the Devil. Those in Christ can overcome Satan and live fruitful, productive lives. According to the following Scriptures, Christ sealed Satan’s doom on the cross (Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:14; John 16:11). We are on the victory side! PRAYER: Father, lead me in this spiritual warfare to stand strong and never surrender. Help me to be wise to Satan’s snares and his temptations. Direct my steps that I may not get sidetracked in pursuing Your will and work. I ask that You would confound the devil and give me courage in times of testing. I know that You are with me and that You will never forsake or fail me. In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com How To Stand Firm When Your Faith Is Being Tested (James 1:2-3)
This morning’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study. You can view this current study in its entirety by visiting Bible Study link below. James 1:2-3, My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. God tests. Satan tempts. The same situation can be both a test from God and a temptation from Satan as in the case of Adam and Eve in the garden, and Jesus in the wilderness. It's by understanding the purpose behind a trial that we see the difference. Satan tempts us to show we're failures and fakes. While Satan wants to destroy us through testing, God has higher purposes for His tests. Philippians 1:6, Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: God tests us to develop our faith, unearth problem areas, and prove we're true believers who won't give up in the crunch. It can be compared to the unveiling of a new car. While pastoring in central Mississippi, we lived near a Nissan plant off I-55 near Jackson, MS. On several occasions I saw workers who would test drive the cars through rigorous tests to prove it is ready for the dealership. Nissan wants to prove the car's worth or at least reveal areas of weakness that still need work back at the factory. The same thing happens to us. Temptation from Satan is meant to fail us. A test from God is meant to free us and help us soar at maximum performance. As we study Scripture, we often find that God's chosen went through different degrees of tests and usually one ultimate test. Noah learned of it as he built the ark. God sent Abraham to the mountain to sacrifice his son Isaac. Jacob experienced it as he wrestled with the angel of the Lord. Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness. Jonah faced it in the belly of the fish. Jesus faced Gethsemane and, beyond it, the cross. Why are there so many of these ultimate tests in Scripture? To instruct us so that when we face similar tests we will triumph. It’s been said, A faith that can’t be tested, can’t be trusted. All through the Bible those who God used greatly were always first tested. Every Christian will face a difficult test at some point. It will be a test prescribed to you. Questions to Consider:
Points to Ponder:
PRAYER: LORD, thank You for helping me to see that there is a purpose for pain I endure. I understand that You are using hard times to refine my conduct and my character. I accept this trial as from You and for my good rather than resisting it. I can trust You because You love me. In Jesus name Amen! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Profits of Pleasing the Lord (Proverbs 16:7)
Proverbs 16:7, When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. A pair of Canada geese set up housekeeping on an island in a farm pond in New Jersey. Year after year these two returned to raise their young. One summer, only one of seven eggs hatched, and the hatchling died the next day. The parents moped for days only to be faced with a new problem. From the woods by the lake another pair of Canadian geese emerged with eight brand-new babies. For some reason, this new pair had chosen the farm pond, and woefully, the island itself, as their brood site. As they arrived on the scene, they went straight to the island ready to do battle for the rights to the location. Of course, the residents fought hard to keep what they thought was their own territory, but they could not drive the newcomers away. As night approached, the resident pair still occupied the island, except for a corner where the new pair huddled with their young, having been granted sleeping privileges. The farmer and his wife went to bed that evening wondering what the outcome of the battle would be the next day. Imagine the farmer's surprise the next morning when he looked out on the lake and saw eight baby geese swimming peacefully with not one but two parents in the lead, and two bringing up the rear. By making peace, the adult geese had not only provided double protection for the goslings, but had also provided the resident pair with babies to care for to replace the ones they had lost. In the same manner as the geese, the Lord gives us insight on what we can do to get along with people, especially our enemies. He tells us to please the Lord by the way we live. When we honor God with our lives, when we love others, including our rivals, He will make our enemies to be at peace with us. People have tried such things as flattery or bribery to appease enemies, but have failed. A genuine Christian is the most lovable personality in human life. God has a way of raising up friends for those who serve Him and do His will. God however, can change the heart of an enemy when our ways please the Saviour. Though there are many enemies of the righteous, when our lives truly please the Lord, in due season, God will cause them to be at peace with us. God does not promise freedom from enemies. The world’s crowd never likes God’s people, but deep down in their heart, they respect those who are truly godly. Though they might persecute and mock the righteous, God will cause them, in due season, to respect His people. The greater principle is that God blesses the righteous. He takes care of them. Pleasing God produces peace. No effort of the United Nations can ever produce the peace that pleasing God does, yet how disinterested the nations of the world are to please the Almighty. Peace is created when God’s ways become man’s ways. If God does allow some persecution by our enemies, it is for our good, (II Timothy 2:12) and for His glory (I Peter 4:14). God will deal with those who oppose His followers. Believers who focus on pleasing God in all of their ways can leave the fate of their enemies in the Lord’s hands. Young Daniel is a great example of this. When a person strives to please the Lord, enemies find it more difficult to find fault with or to criticize them. One who is trying to uphold the great commandment to love others as themselves will be much more likely to win over an enemy than someone who is being rebellious or argumentative. It is the believer’s role to please the Lord, and it is God’s role to convert or convict the enemy. Questions to Consider:
Points to Ponder:
PRAYER: Father, my greatest desire is to please You in all things. Help me to resist pleasing the world rather than pleasing you. Help me to always stay close to You. In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com 3 Responsibilities Concerning the Will of God (I Thessalonians 5:15-18) – Part 3
I Thessalonians 5:16-18, Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 3. Our Petition - In every thing give thanks: (I Thessalonians 5:18) The church in Thessalonica had reason for thanksgiving. They had faced much adversity, but God had been good and blessed them abundantly. Paul exhorts them to give thanks unto the Lord in every situation and circumstance. In everything refers to all that occurs in life. Because God is at work in our lives and no matter what we go through He is there with us and He's working in us and through us, we can give thanks. Romans 8:28, And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” I know that we have a hard time being thankful for the trials of life, but they too are for our benefit. It is in our adversity that we learn to trust the Lord and are made more like Him. We will never face anything that our God is not able to handle. He is sovereign in every aspect of our lives. We can give thanks in every situation. In our praise to God we are to rejoice always and we are to give thanks in everything. God commands His people to give thanks to Him! We should give God praise, honor, and glory because of what He has given to us. God gave Jesus for us and when we trusted Jesus as our Lord, Jesus came into our heart. The reason I can give thanks in everything is because Jesus lives in my heart. Scripture says to give thanks “in” everything; “not for” everything. It includes good things and bad things, joys and sorrows, gains and losses, hurts and health, good news and bad news. In everything give thanks! At all times, in all circumstances, give thanks to God. We don’t have to be thankful for our trials. But we can be thankful in them since we know the Lord is going to use it for our good in the future. We don’t have to be thankful when a loved one dies; but we can be thankful that we know we will see them again; or the Lord will give us peace and strength to get through. Faith can give thanks in all things, because faith realizes that whatever comes to pass comes to pass by the will of God. Give thanks, because, whatever your present circumstances, this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. This is a difficult command, but a divine command. Thanksgiving to God is to be given in adversity and prosperity, for no matter what happens, all things work together for the believer's good and for the glory of God. For Christians, there is no situation in which we cannot give thanks. A life of prayer and devotion leads to a thankful heart. Questions to Consider:
Points to Ponder:
PRAYER: Father, Your Word says to always give thanks and to give thanks for everything. Without Your help, that is impossible. Forgive me for all the times that I worry about my situation. In Jesus’ name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com |
AuthorDr. Blackman is passionate about helping others grow in the grace of the Lord. His devotions are centered on how to grow closer to the Lord through a personal relationship with Christ. Archives
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