Is it possible to be give thanks always? Why should I give thanks when bad things are happening to me? This is only possible from a place of faith, knowing that my life is not my own and that a higher one is directing the affairs of my life. Let’s have a look at a command: ‘Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus’ is a well known verse in the Big book. It means if I don’t live a life of thankfulness, I am not aligning myself with the will of Christ Jesus.
Three things mentioned in that verse:
- Rejoice always
- Pray continually
- Give thanks always
How can we be joyful in our difficult human situation? Romans 5:3-4 says, “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” There is a purpose for your ‘temporary’ suffering. With an attitude of faith, you can overcome.
Another version : Always be joyful, always keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
An ungrateful heart is a grumbling heart, It is one or the other, I don’t agree that someone can be neutral on this. There are things that happen when we continually give thanks and there are things that happen when we don’t. In case you wondered what happens when we complain, let’s see what happened to some grumblers in the Word. In the book of Numbers we read: ‘Eventually, the people began complaining about their distress, and the LORD heard them. When the LORD heard, his anger flared up and the LORD’s fire incinerated some of them within the outskirts of the camp‘. (ISV version, biblehub)
‘Be happy always, praying all the time and giving thanks in everything’. Wow! that takes great faith. Have you ever complained of not having the best of something and found people who are worse off? You may have complained of not having the best shoes for an occasion till you find people who have no legs at all and still live well.
No matter what the troubles, pain, excitement, successes and failures, give thanks. If you haven’t got anything to be thankful for right away and I know that is not true, sow thanksgiving into someone life, especially the people around you. Thank the Creator for them. We reap what we sow is a universal law
It reminds me of another part of the book that says that the joy of the Lord is our strength. Can merely believing in God give you strength you ask? Being joyful in Him will bring strength.
If you truly believe in person’s ability to guide you, provide for you then there is no reason to be unthankful. Being unthankful or ungrateful is unhealthy. If we ever get to the place of permanently living on ‘grumble avenue‘ , then something is drastically wrong and drastic change is necessary.
One of the best ways to give thanks is to have a journal. Your journal can be a your prayer book, a place where you meet your creator and tell Him things you want to give thanks for and things you want changed.
Lastly we rejoice always because we believe that all things are working together for our good!
Hey Kav, you have a beautiful website. Your love for the Lord and sharing the Gospel (Good News), comes through loud and strong.
Our Lord is first and foremost our creator.
Her is also our healer, provider, comforter, protector and so thankfully our Savior.
I love the way you relate the stories of the Bible. These are not just stories but Truths about our God.
Whenever I read something that is hard to comprehend, I just look at a West Texas sunset and think, who could paint that but God?
Keep up the good work on your site. You will be blessed.
Dennis
Hi Dennis
I can feel your energy for the things of God, our Creator.
Indeed those things we read in the Book are more than stories and that is why I feel I need to help people understand and relate to it.
Thanks for your your comment.
Hello,
thanks for sharing this amazing article. Your post is very inspiring. I agree with you, we have to be joyful in difficult situations and we should always pray. Not only should we pray on difficult human situations but also when we are happy as well. We should be thankful for what we got.
Thanks Karlo.
A merry heart is medicine to our bodies and soul.