In Thessalonians 5:18, we are instructed to give thanks in all circumstances because this is the will of God for us.
The writer is not saying that we should thank God FOR everything, but IN everything. Evil does not come from God, so we donโt thank Him for that, but we can thank Him for His presence during that evil, AND for the GOOD He will accomplish through the distress.
In other words, our attitude of gratitude must not be dependent on our circumstances or feelings, but rather on the confidence that God is making all things work together for good.
Remaining thankful in all circumstances places us at the center of God’s will. It creates a spiritual atmosphere that is welcoming to His Presence. Gratitude invites the power of God to alter our perspectives and halt the trajectory of our spiraling thoughts.
You inhabit the praises of your people. Psalm 22:3
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this the will of God concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
As we prepare for the holiday of Thanksgiving, with all of the planning to gather with family, friends, and loved ones, we get anxious, donโt we? We often worry about shopping, cooking, relationship challenges, or maybe how past holidays turned out.
These are legitimate reservations that we need to listen to, but also realize that we can be thankful for these feelings. All of these holiday anxieties show us that we cherish these relationships regardless of past interactions that may have left us distanced from others.
We have reason to be thankful every day of the year. But Thanksgiving Day is special. A full day dedicated to gratitude is a gift โ one we should not take lightly.
Giving thanks is aย spiritual discipline, and a day dedicated to developing this life-giving habit with people weโre close to is a luxury and a gift. Giving thanks in everything is the way to achieve the utmost satisfaction in life. God made us and He knows how our brains work best.
Staying thankful is the best way to live our best lives.Being thankful is the way to remain in the center of God’s will, trusting that He is managing the details of our lives.
You know how to give good things to your children. How much more then, will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him! Luke 11:13
The Holy Spirit has infused you with clarity of purpose and divine destiny. You maintain a higher level of spiritual perception because you listen to the Spirit and follow the instructions you are given. You have the mind of Christ and share His thoughts, ideals, and goals.
Your Spirit-controlled mind gives you a supernatural vantage point which allows you to view life from the divine perspective, outside of time, space, and human emotion.
You receive increasingly more light as you walk with Christ through the seasons of life. Having the superior guidance system of the Spirit allows you to be in the right place, at the right time, making good decisions.
You deeply desire to live as the Spirit guides, because you want to do the right thing for yourself and those you love.
Spiritual directives come to you through divine insight and experience. You find comfort in knowing that the wisdom of Christ is gift from God rather than an academic accomplishment of your own human intellect.
You appreciate the strength of the Spirit when embarking on difficult journeys through forgiveness, regret, loss, and insecurity. You know that when your mind is controlled by the Spirit, the concept of faith is not difficult to comprehend.
As you continue to identify His thoughts and ideals emerging from your own mind, you realize that the Holy Spirit is truly yours and therefore, the possibilities are endless.
It only takes a little faith us to get out of the boat and trust Jesus to keep us afloat. We want to stay in the safety of the boat where everything is familiar. We want to experience smooth sailing with no waves or winds. However, there is a little seed of faith inside which tells us there is so much more to life what we have known. We are certain that we have a destiny to fulfill. We know it starts with a single stepโฆout of the comfort zone and into the unknown.
We take a deep breath, whisper, โIt is finished!โ to our fear of change and take that first shaky step toward the sound of His voice.
Name a time when you took a risk and moved forward despite the presence of natural fear?
We believed we were no longer damaged, dysfunctional, disease-ridden plagues on society. We sensed that our bodies, souls, and spirits were coming into harmony with our divine destiny. As light seeped in where the darkness had been, we saw things weโd never seen before. We understood spiritual concepts which had seemed confusing in the past.
Judges 11:6 They told him, โCome, and lead us, so that we can fight the enemy.โ
God is always in front of you, guiding the way, clearing a path, and leveling the field.
Much like the football player who receives a handoff and advances up the field on a path cleared by his teammates, you run with the destiny youโve been given. You remain confident that angelic forces are blocking the opposition and opening a path to the goal line.
With a sure win in sight, your life is filled with first downs, goals, and extra points.
Eventually, when the clock runs out, and you leave the field, you will be met by your adoring fans from past generations who have been cheering you on.
Jesus will welcome you with a winning smile and enthusiastic praise for a game well played.
Some people were standing there and asked, โWhat are you doing? Why are you untying that colt?โ Mark 11:5
Happy Birthday 11/5
You have a call on your life, and you have always known it. Others may not understand it, and some will ask why you do what you do.
You know that you have received specific instructions from the Lord about what He wants you to do. You canโt explain it to others because you donโt really understand it yourself.
You are accustomed to hearing the inner voice of the Holy Spirit. You often adapt your plans or rearrange your schedule to accommodate this expression of God that resonates within your own spirit. Sometimes His instructions are vague or segmented, and you must step out in faith, believing the rest of the plan will come when the moment is right. Yet, other times the instructions are laid out so simply and clearly, you know what you need to do in no uncertain terms.
When Jesus told the disciples to go get the colt, they couldnโt possibly have known His purpose or plan. They wouldnโt have been able to explain it to anyone else because they didnโt understand it themselves.
Therefore, Jesus gave them the perfect response to those who asked what and why. They were to respond, โThe Lord needs it.โ
When you are following the inner voice of the Holy Spirit, others may question your purpose or your motives. Rather than offering explanations that might lead to confusion, you can simply report, โThe Lord needs me to do this.โ
You do not need to explain what Jesus asks of you or why He specifically selected you for the task. You may not even understand it yourself, but thatโs okay. All you know is the Lord has asked you to do it, and you have no intention of letting Him down.
Psalm 11:4 The Lord is in His holy house. The Lordโs throne is in heaven.
You are the dwelling place of God on this earth. You serve as His hands, eyes, ears, and heart while you journey through time.
Since God is a Spirit, His impact on the physical realm can only be supported by those who coordinate their efforts with His.
Knowing that the Creator of the Universe has entrusted you with His Spirit and made His home within you gives you purpose and direction.
You know that none of the daily tasks of life are insignificant.
You recognize that each conversation you have with another human being is a sacred connection.
You know that each impulse of compassion, mercy, kindness, or strength is a signal for action from the Spirit of God which leads you to your next assignment.
As the temple of God, you keep your mind and body healthy and strong.
You offer your physical presence to God as a living space where He can function through you to bring light and life to the people you meet on the paths you walk.
Exodus 11:3 The Lord made the Egyptians respect His people. Even the officials and all the people considered Moses to be a very great man.
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God has caused you to be respected by those who are naturally inclined to disregard you because of race, religion, culture, or economic status. You have gained the favor of those in power because God has placed you in a position to serve them.
You are kind, trustworthy, and compassionate. You are loyal and dependable. You are confident and comfortable in your own skin. Your submission to Godโs authority has caught the attention of human authority figures and caused them to admire you.
You are respected wherever you go. You maintain a wide circle of influence and are surrounded by powerful people who are inspired by your call and willing to help you on your journey.
As you hear Godโs words, your faith surges. Supernatural energy infuses you with a heavenly mindset. As you focus your attention on Kingdom goals, you are simultaneously improving the world in which you reside.
In this way, you are living in two realms at once. You are a citizen of Heaven, and an ambassador of Christ. Your heart is set on things above, and your days are filled with bringing heaven to earth.
The spiritual sound waves of that still small voice within, creates melody in your mind and harmony in your heart. This music of heaven shifts your gaze away from human struggles and toward the throne room of your King.
You are able to enjoy the presence and comfort of God, while existing in a finite dimension. You reap the benefits of a dual reality where His Kingdom is as real to you as the world in which you live.