Comments on God Speaks Today: 21 Days to Clarity, Day 3: Be Thankful

Thanksgiving, the lifestyle. I love it.

2009-11-30T11:56:55.288-05:00

Thanksgiving, the lifestyle. I love it.

happy thanksgiving, sandy!

2009-11-26T03:47:27.836-05:00

happy thanksgiving, sandy!

Such a beautiful post. My grandfather put that ve...

2009-11-24T19:06:29.846-05:00

Such a beautiful post. My grandfather put that verse from I Thess. 5 in my baby book on the baptism register the day I was baptized. I found it when I was a kid and I've been fond of it ever since. I think of it as his gift to me since he died when I was young and I wasn't able to to really appreciate him as a spiritual mentor any other way. I can't fathom having to apply it in a situation such as that of your friend, but I imagine that is indeed what Paul was trying to get at with his audience.

I love the thought of thanksgiving as a lifestyle. Verse 16 in that chapter tells us to pray with out ceasing...prayer and thanksgiving as a way of life. Can you imagine how our lives would be transformed if we always had prayer and thanksgiving on our lips! I'm a long way from being able to pull that off, but I'd like to think I have it as something I'm striving for.

The only thing I could possibly hope to add to the whole giving thanks FOR all things vs IN all things is that there is no situation of poverty, divorce, abuse and despair that God cannot redeem. Those things may not be of God, but He is certainly in them and can use them to his glory if we have the faith to let Him move in them.

Anonymous, Good point. I'm not there either....

2009-11-24T16:44:23.592-05:00

Anonymous,

Good point. I'm not there either. Now you've got me wanting to study this out.

Love it.

Blessings to you!
Sandy

I don't know if this would be considered the s...

2009-11-24T16:23:59.773-05:00

I don't know if this would be considered the same as being "thankful", but I remember that the apostles "rejoiced that they had been counted worthy of suffering" for Christ (acts 5). I'm pretty sure I am not there! :)

I want to live to be thankful for everything, ever...

2009-11-24T15:00:07.012-05:00

I want to live to be thankful for everything, everyday.

There are so many times when I feel like it's only me going through something and then God wakes me up and I realize just how good I have it. I just need to be thankful for it a whole lot more often!

Dear Anonymous, Oh man...you're right! Eph 5...

2009-11-24T11:39:03.875-05:00

Dear Anonymous,

Oh man...you're right! Eph 5 DOES say "for all things." And you are also right that this standard is so much higher than "in" all things.

I wonder though, since we can't take the scriptures out of context and we always need to interpret them in light of other scriptures, if God really means literally to thank Him for all things. ALL THINGS?

For evil? For Satan? For little kids being abused? For disease taking away lives? For poverty? For divorce? For SIN?

I don't know about that. I don't know of any examples in the scriptures where God's people did this or where God commanded people to do this. (there may be some...I just don't know of any)

But I do see where God looked at the attitude and the heart of the person abused, impoverished or struck with disease and expected praise, humility and yes, thanksgiving. Why? I think because despite all the terrible things in this fallen world, God is still GOOD. And though we may have trials and storms, God always promises to use those things for our good and for His glory. Ultimately, the things Satan uses to destroy us, God uses to refine us into His image. I think THAT is what He wants us to be thankful for. Not the actual things meant to destroy us.

I'd be interested to know if anyone else knows of some scriptural support fot the idea that God wants us to give thanks FOR all things.

Anyone? I really want to learn! :)

Love the comments...thank you!
Sandy

I have often heard people quote that passage in 1 ...

2009-11-24T11:15:16.548-05:00

I have often heard people quote that passage in 1 Thessalonians, saying, "God tells us to give thanks IN all things, not FOR all things," and I like that - it's so much more doable.

One day I heard a preacher on the radio say that God wants us to give thanks FOR everything. I said to myself - or to him - through the radio - "No, that's not right. The Bible says IN all things..." With an attitude of arrogance, I argued with him.

Then I looked up the passage he referenced.

Eph 5:19-20 "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father FOR everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

He was right. It does say FOR everything. so. much. harder.

Thank you so much for this series, Sandy. I need it so much.

Beautiful truths in this post...I especially like ...

2009-11-24T09:50:50.952-05:00

Beautiful truths in this post...I especially like your phrase, too, of "devote yourself to Thanksgiving (the lifestyle), "...

Thanksgiving..the lifestyle...sounds good. I love...

2009-11-24T09:07:18.576-05:00

Thanksgiving..the lifestyle...sounds good.

I love how you say that being thankful clears out the clutter between you and God so that you can hear Him. That is powerful.

As always Sandy....excellent :)

I hope you are doing well and having a nice week,friend.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hugs,
Kate :)

Awesome girl.

2009-11-23T23:12:25.397-05:00

Awesome girl.