What kind of personality do you possess? Are you a glass half empty sort of person, or a glass half full? Do you encourage others when they do something good, or do you overlook the good, and major on the minors by discouraging them when they disappoint you?
The will of God for us is to give thanks in every situation (1 Thessalonians 5:18). When we stop looking for what was not done, and we start thanking people for the efforts that they do make, they will be encouraged and make more of an attempt to repeat the activity for which we gave them praise.
With Jesus as our focus, our life also becomes one of praise to our God. We live in Jesus, our faith is established in Him, we are grounded in Him, and our roots are firmly planted in Him (Colossians 2:6-7). Even during negative trials, we give thanks to God for everything, knowing that He has our best interest at heart (Ephesians 5:20).
When Jesus was praying in the garden, just before Judas' kiss, He felt so much anguish that He requested that God choose another way to pay the penalty for the generations of sins that He was about to take upon Himself; yet, He willingly carried out our Father's plan.
He trusted in God's wisdom and focused on the glory that awaited Him in eternity (Hebrews 12:2), rather than stressing out over the horrendous trial into which He was about to enter. He gave thanks to God for using Him to save those who would trust in Him for their redemption (John 17:9,15).
As we focus on staying alert to the will of God for us, and to praying without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), we live in gratitude for who He is, what He does for us, and for our opportunity to spend eternity with Him. The will of God for us is always to give thanks in everything (Psalm 34:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Colossians 4:2).
Prayer:
Father God, teach us not to worry about anything, but to put our trust completely in Your goodness and faithfulness to all of Your Saints. Help us to come to You throughout our day for Your guidance and provision as we make our requests known to You (Philippians 4:6; Proverbs 3:5-6). We know from Your Word and by our experiences with You, that You will never abandon or neglect us (Hebrews 13:5).
We realize that Your will for us revolves around gratitude in our heart toward You, but it also includes a walk of holiness (1 Thessalonians 4:3), which will silence the ignorance of foolish people who refuse to put their faith in You (1 Peter 2:15). Help us not to live our life on this earth by chasing after worldly gain, treasure, admiration and lusts, but by pursuing Your will for our life (1 Peter 4:2).
Thought for the Day:
Whatever we do in our thoughts, words and actions, we do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ; and by Him, through Him and in Him, we give continual thanks and praise to our Father God, who loved us enough to plan for Jesus to pay our sin-debt before the world was ever created.
- 1 Peter 1:20; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:17
