1 Thessalonians 5:18 - Building Gratitude Avoids Becoming Bitter.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV) Give thanks in
all circumstances, for this is God's will for
you in Christ Jesus.
INTRODUCTION
"In everything give thanks: for this is the
will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." I
Thessalonians 5:18. This command is an assurance that even
the things which appear to be against us will
work for our good. God would not bid us be
thankful for that which would do us harm. MH255
COMMENTARY PEARL
When Youre Going Through A Season Of
Great Change And Stress, How Do You Maintain Joy?
You Do It By Developing The Habit Of
Thanking God For All Thats Good, Despite All
Thats Bad.
This principle is found in 1
Thessalonians 5:18: "Be thankful in all circumstances, for
this is Gods will for you who belong to Christ
Jesus (NLT). This means that we should develop an
attitude of gratitude in every situation. It doesn't
mean that we have to be thankful for everything
that happens to us, especially the bad things
like cancer or car accidents. We dont have to
be thankful for all the evil in the world.
But Every Time You Take A Minute To
Express Gratitude To God About Anything - It Could
Be Your Favorite Music, Nature Spot, Or
Scripture - It Helps Refill Your Empty Emotional Tank
So You Can Move Forward In Life. Choosing To Be
Thankful Is For Your Own Good; It Keeps You From
Getting Bitter And Helps You Make It To The Finish
Line.
Being grateful is easy when your
emotional tank is full and things are going great in
your life. Its much harder to find something
to be thankful for when you're facing a crisis
or prolonged chronic stress. But thats when
you need to express gratitude the most.
The story of Job is a great example of
gratitude during hard times. He was a wealthy and
successful man, but he lost everything in a single day.
He didn't know why everything happened to him,
and he had every reason to be angry and bitter.
Despite this, he gratefully worshipped God. Even in
his darkest moment, he fell to the ground and
worshipped God, saying, "May the name of the LORD be
praised (Job 1:21 NIV).
One of the most practical yet powerful
habits you can develop is to make a daily gratitude
list. Just sit down for five minutes each day and
ask yourself, "What am I grateful for? Its
a habit that will strengthen your soul and
keep you going when you feel like giving up.
Even in our darkest moments, we can
follow Job's example and gratefully worship God,
knowing that his will for us is to give thanks in
all circumstances. [Daily Devotional by Rick
Warren: https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
CLOSING THOUGHT
Nothing tends more to promote health of
body and of soul than does a spirit of gratitude
and praise. It is a positive duty to resist
melancholy, discontented thoughts and feelings - as much
a duty as it is to pray. If we are
heaven-bound, how can we go as a band of mourners,
groaning and complaining all along the way to our
Father's house?
Those professed Christians who are
constantly complaining, and who seem to think
cheerfulness and happiness a sin, have not genuine
religion. Those who take a mournful pleasure in all
that is melancholy in the natural world, who
choose to look upon dead leaves rather than to
gather the beautiful living flowers, who see no
beauty in grand mountain heights and in valleys
clothed with living green, who close their senses to
the joyful voice which speaks to them in nature,
and which is sweet and musical to the listening
ear - these are not in Christ. They are
gathering to themselves gloom and darkness, when they
might have brightness, even the Sun of
Righteousness arising in their hearts with healing in His
beams. MH251
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY
1 Thessalonians 5:18 - Being Thankful Always.
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20231025-0937.html
1 Thessalonians 5:18 - How To Be Thankful
Always.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20191123-1531.html
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210907-0929.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
https://abible.com/links/
