LEARNING DAILY

Ephesians 5:18b, 20, Be filled with the Spirit, … giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

How important it is to have an attitude of gratitude each day as a Believer. There is so much to be thankful for. O.S. Hawkins has written that being “thankful is evidence one is filled with the Holy Spirit. Our looking upward with thanksgiving no matter our circumstances is something we can do because of the Holy Spirit’s presence within us.” Believers need to always be thankful because of what God has done in their life;

It is important to have an attitude of gratitude of thanksgiving not only in times of joy and blessings but in all situations being faced. By expressing gratitude and thanksgiving, Believers acknowledge and demonstrate trust in the plans He is directing them through. When Believers do that, they are shifting the attention from circumstances to the goodness of God. Any time one does that their relationship to Him grows stronger because there is an acceptance that God is in control of every situation. Romans 8:28 is a great verse to remember in these times. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Believers must remember that no matter what their feelings are on any given day, loving God and walking with Him in faith is part of what it means to walk with Him. “All things” in Romans 8:28 means every circumstance one might experience even pain and suffering. “Works together” is understood to mean God working in and through all circumstances toward a specific goal – “for good.” The word "good" does not necessarily mean happy or painless or financially successful or our idea of the best possible outcome on any given day. God's ultimate good for us is to bring us closer to the image of His Son, to make us ready to enter eternity in His kingdom.

Have you thanked God for the many blessings you enjoyed this week? Have you gone through any trials or tribulations this week? Have you learned anything from them? Have you grown in your faith by going through them (or as you are going through a situation)? Why don’t you take a moment to thank God for those times or the time you are in, for the opportunity to draw closer to Him. 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Ephesians 5:20, “Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Giving Thanks to God unites the Believer’s heart with God’s heart, His will, and brings glory to His name. The believer is acknowledging God’s control in their life, appreciation for what He has done and will do in their lives.

May I suggest you take another moment and thank God for His grace. Thank Him for your family and how He is dealing with each of them each day. I thank God continually for never giving up on me; He had plenty of opportunities to do so. Because He did not give up on me, I know He will not give up on any of you. Why don’t you take many moments during the day to be thankful for God’s involvement in your life. Try it and see what He will do for you.