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Thankful in everything
God's will for His people is that they rejoice always, that they pray ceaselessly, and now we see that He also wills for them to be thankful in everything.
Take note of a very important detail here: It says we are to be thankful in everything, not be thankful for everything. That's significant, because not everything that happens in life is something we ought to be thankful for. A husband's sinful addiction, a child's rebellion, a natural disaster...these aren't things we say thank you for.
But again, that's not what the Word is referring to here. It's not addressing outward actions or events but rather the inward attitude that we're to have. In everything, in the midst of everything, and even in spite of what may come our way...we're to give thanks.
How? When we looked at the command to "rejoice always" (please see September 12th), we saw that our ability to rejoice was grounded in the accomplishment achieved at the Cross. Jesus died and secured eternal salvation for us, and it has an ongoing effect and influence upon our lives. And it always will.
The same principle applies here. No matter what might be happening in our lives, it doesn't change or take away from what Jesus has done for us, and what He's done for us not only causes us to rejoice but to be thankful...eternally so.
It's God's will that we live by this attitude of gratitude, because it sets our priorities right. Yes, life will be hard. Yes, there will be trials. Yes, there will be things that happen for which we won't be thankful. But that must not define us. Our lives are to be defined by what God has done for us...and what He's done is always deserving of our thanks.
God's will for His people is that they rejoice always, that they pray ceaselessly, and now we see that He also wills for them to be thankful in everything.
Think about it...
What does this passage reveal to me about God?
What does this passage reveal to me about myself?
Based on this, what changes do I need to make?
What is my prayer for today?
God's will for His people is that they rejoice always, that they pray ceaselessly, and now we see that He also wills for them to be thankful in everything.
Take note of a very important detail here: It says we are to be thankful in everything, not be thankful for everything. That's significant, because not everything that happens in life is something we ought to be thankful for. A husband's sinful addiction, a child's rebellion, a natural disaster...these aren't things we say thank you for.
But again, that's not what the Word is referring to here. It's not addressing outward actions or events but rather the inward attitude that we're to have. In everything, in the midst of everything, and even in spite of what may come our way...we're to give thanks.
How? When we looked at the command to "rejoice always" (please see September 12th), we saw that our ability to rejoice was grounded in the accomplishment achieved at the Cross. Jesus died and secured eternal salvation for us, and it has an ongoing effect and influence upon our lives. And it always will.
The same principle applies here. No matter what might be happening in our lives, it doesn't change or take away from what Jesus has done for us, and what He's done for us not only causes us to rejoice but to be thankful...eternally so.
It's God's will that we live by this attitude of gratitude, because it sets our priorities right. Yes, life will be hard. Yes, there will be trials. Yes, there will be things that happen for which we won't be thankful. But that must not define us. Our lives are to be defined by what God has done for us...and what He's done is always deserving of our thanks.
God's will for His people is that they rejoice always, that they pray ceaselessly, and now we see that He also wills for them to be thankful in everything.
Think about it...
What does this passage reveal to me about God?
What does this passage reveal to me about myself?
Based on this, what changes do I need to make?
What is my prayer for today?
Scripture
About this Plan
Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, founded in 1985, has grown to be one of the largest churches in the country, and now has nine regional campuses in Florida in addition to the main campus in Fort Lauderdale. The church has established and now operates dozens of ministries to answer the needs for foster care, addiction recovery, and discipleship training. The church's mission is simply, "make disciples."
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We would like to thank Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale for providing this daily devotional. For more information about the church and other media resources it provides for personal discipleship, please visit www.calvaryftl.org
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