THE LIFE OF THANKSGIVING.
Pray continually: In 1st Thessalonians 5:16–18, Paul says, be joyful always ; pray continually ; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 103:1–5 says, praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits–who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. At first sight, it appears to be another example of worship as the Psalmist continues to praise the Lord. However, a closer look shows that there is quite an important difference. So, what does the Psalmist praise God for here?
1. In verse 2, God’s benefits to him.
2. In verse 3, God’s forgiveness of his sins.
3. In verse 4a, God’s redeeming him from the grave.
4. In verse 4b God’s love and compassion for him.
5. In verse 5, God’s satisfies all his needs.
What, if you suffer, or people treat you badly for your faith? Let the spirit fill you with joy. See Matthew 5:10–12 says, blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. See also John 16:33, it says, I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
Always give thanks to God the Father for everything. Ephesians 5:20 says, 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. See also Colossians 3:17, it says, These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Sing praises, even in the midnight of your pain and shame! See James 5:13, it says, is any of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Read also Matthew 5:4, it says, blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Again read Acts of Apostles 16:22–25, the crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. See also Ephesians 5:18–20, it says, do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 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.
The kind of prayer that is found in Psalm 103 is called thanksgiving for the obvious reason that it gives thanks to God for what He does for us.
Our prayer life should be patterned on the things we have learned from the Word of God. Read Matthew 5:3, it says, blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed be your name, O God, because you are the only source of all true happiness.
Do you know someone in your church or congregation who is like that Bible salt of life? Someone who is not afraid to speak out in love. When things are not as they ought to be? We should certainly thank the Lord for that brother or sister and do all we can to encourage them in their spiritual duties.
Do you give thanks to God for the people who were the light in your darkness? God may have used almost anyone: your parents, teachers or even neighbors, an announcer in a Christian radio, television, Gospel singers, a pastor, the author of a book, almost anyone.
We can readily see how we should worship God for His wisdom and goodness in giving such teaching and to thank the Lord Jesus for coming to fulfill them on the earth. Both prayers of worship and of thanksgiving can be based on His teaching. See Matthew 5:11–12, it says, blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me, Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Read Matthew 5:13 – 16, you are the salt of the earth, But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men; You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden, Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
In our devotional life, it is important that we learn to take the truth we discover from the Jesus teaching and turn them into prayers back to Him. If we do this, it will help us to be sure of what we are asking according to God’s will. And it will give us a prayer – life that is always varied, fruitful and abundant.
May your prayers be answered in Jesus name. Amen.
Till next we meet.
Pray continually: In 1st Thessalonians 5:16–18, Paul says, be joyful always ; pray continually ; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 103:1–5 says, praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits–who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. At first sight, it appears to be another example of worship as the Psalmist continues to praise the Lord. However, a closer look shows that there is quite an important difference. So, what does the Psalmist praise God for here?
1. In verse 2, God’s benefits to him.
2. In verse 3, God’s forgiveness of his sins.
3. In verse 4a, God’s redeeming him from the grave.
4. In verse 4b God’s love and compassion for him.
5. In verse 5, God’s satisfies all his needs.
What, if you suffer, or people treat you badly for your faith? Let the spirit fill you with joy. See Matthew 5:10–12 says, blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. See also John 16:33, it says, I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
Always give thanks to God the Father for everything. Ephesians 5:20 says, 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. See also Colossians 3:17, it says, These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Sing praises, even in the midnight of your pain and shame! See James 5:13, it says, is any of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Read also Matthew 5:4, it says, blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Again read Acts of Apostles 16:22–25, the crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. See also Ephesians 5:18–20, it says, do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 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.
The kind of prayer that is found in Psalm 103 is called thanksgiving for the obvious reason that it gives thanks to God for what He does for us.
Our prayer life should be patterned on the things we have learned from the Word of God. Read Matthew 5:3, it says, blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed be your name, O God, because you are the only source of all true happiness.
Do you know someone in your church or congregation who is like that Bible salt of life? Someone who is not afraid to speak out in love. When things are not as they ought to be? We should certainly thank the Lord for that brother or sister and do all we can to encourage them in their spiritual duties.
Do you give thanks to God for the people who were the light in your darkness? God may have used almost anyone: your parents, teachers or even neighbors, an announcer in a Christian radio, television, Gospel singers, a pastor, the author of a book, almost anyone.
We can readily see how we should worship God for His wisdom and goodness in giving such teaching and to thank the Lord Jesus for coming to fulfill them on the earth. Both prayers of worship and of thanksgiving can be based on His teaching. See Matthew 5:11–12, it says, blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me, Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Read Matthew 5:13 – 16, you are the salt of the earth, But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men; You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden, Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
In our devotional life, it is important that we learn to take the truth we discover from the Jesus teaching and turn them into prayers back to Him. If we do this, it will help us to be sure of what we are asking according to God’s will. And it will give us a prayer – life that is always varied, fruitful and abundant.
May your prayers be answered in Jesus name. Amen.
Till next we meet.