Pray with Thanksgiving

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

Worry is like a rocking chair; there's a whole lot of movement, but you get nowhere.  In the above verse the apostle is not suggesting that we just ignore our problems.  The word, "careful" suggests anxiety.  It is, "to be filled with care."  He is saying "Don't worry." 

He then tells us what to do with the things that can cause care, anxiety and worry.  Tell God about it, all the while being thankful that God will hear you.

Peace of God does not come as a result of fretting and worrying over how you're going to work things out, but in talking to Him and trusting Him in the middle of the problem.  Keep praying and keep on being thankful. Faith, not worry, honors God.  As the old hymn says, "Take your burden to the Lord, and leave it there." 

Thanks to God for the Bible

"At midnight will I rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments." (Psalm 119:62)

What would get you out of bed at midnight if you had been asleep for a while? Perhaps the cry of a sick child would get you out of bed at midnight. Jesus spoke a parable about a man who was awakened at midnight by a neighbor friend who needed some bread to give a visitor. (Luke 11:5-8) Maybe a strange sound in the other part of the house would get you up at midnight.  Worry might do it.

John Phillips points out that the Jewish families in that day went to bed early and midnight would truly be the middle of the night.

The word, "judgments" is used as a reference to the Bible 18 times in this 119th Psalm. The Psalmist is saying that he gets up at midnight to express thanks for the Word of God.  We do not know if this was something he did every night. The fact is, he was thankful for the Word of God. At this thanksgiving season especially, let us express sincere thanks to God for His precious Word.

The Unspeakable Gift of God

A beautiful sunset is hard to describe.  The brilliant colors, the shades of light and dark and before you can call someone to enjoy it with you it's gone.  Beautiful leaves on the trees adorning a hillside are another indescribable scene.  And, even though it's a terrible inconvenience, snow has its own beauty. If we try to describe these rare scenes in nature we are at a loss for words.

During this Thanksgiving season as we think about things for which to be thankful I am reminded of Paul the Apostle's statement, "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift."  (II Corinthians 9:15)  Other translations use the word, "indescribable" instead of unspeakable. 

And, just what is this indescribable gift from God?  The Bible tells us that "the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23) This gift from God is indescribable, unspeakable. John tells us in his first epistle that eternal life is in God's Son and he that has the Son has life and he that does not have the Son does not have life. (I John 5:11-12)

Can you paint a picture of Jesus whom you have never seen?  We can't describe Him with our limited understanding. It is much more difficult than describing a rose in full bloom to a blind person.

Receive the gift.  Enjoy the gift. Be thankful to God for the gift. 

Give Thanks in Everything

"In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (I Thessalonians 5:18)

An example of being thankful in difficult situations is Daniel, the prophet of God, who found himself about to be thrown into a den of hungry lions. Darius the king of the Medes had been tricked into signing a decree that if someone was found petitioning anyone other than Darius he would be thrown into a den of lions. Daniel did not have to think it over.  The Bible says that when he knew the decree had been signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he had done before. (Daniel 6:4-15) 

The verse above in I Thessalonians says, "In" everything not "for" everything give thanks." Daniel was giving thanks "IN" everything.

The tricksters brought their charges to Darius and Daniel was indeed thrown into the den of lions. But Daniel was delivered. God closed the mouths of the lions.

What difficult situation are you facing? It may be a health problem, financial problem, family problem, school or vocational decision you must make.  In everything give thanks. God has promised not to leave nor forsake you.  Be thankful.

Give Thanks unto the LORD

'It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High." (Psalm 92:1)

For many years there has been a proclamation that a day would be set aside as a time of national thanksgiving. With or without such a proclamation the Psalmist reminds us that it is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord.

I am reminded of the two little boys who were neighbors. One invited the other to his house for supper. When they were all seated the guest bowed his head and waited for someone to say a prayer. The host family started eating immediately. A little embarrassed, the father said, "We don't say a blessing before we eat." The little guest, not meaning to be unkind, said, "Oh, that's the way my dog eats. He just starts right in." A hog under an oak tree eats acorns without ever looking up to see where they came from.

Let us thank Him for all things, the large and the small. Let us thank Him for our freedoms, for our security, His protection, His unfailing promises, for His great love, mercy and grace because, "it is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord."

God Bless America Again

"Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people." (Proverbs 14:34)

In the early days of this great nation there were no sinless people, but there were people who knew right from wrong.  They knew about the righteous path that leads individuals, families, communities, states and the nation to greatness. They knew how to lead their children to walk with God.  They knew that church and holiness of character were worthy of attention.  They feared God.  The nation walked a road to greatness.

In more recent days the blight of sin has fallen like a dirty, filthy shroud over our nation.  It seems that whatever God promotes, there is an element that says, "That's not for us."  On the other hand, if God prohibits a lifestyle or an action and if that prohibition is plainly spelled out in the Bible, that same element says, "No one, not even God, can stop us. We will have complete freedom." 

Righteousness builds up.  Sin tears down and destroys.  Just look at Israel in the Old Testament.  May God bless America again.

Discover the Light

Have you ever gone into a dimly lighted restaurant and almost stumbled over chairs and tables as you try to keep up with the hostess taking you to your table?  The dark is overwhelming. However, after a few minutes your eyes have adjusted to the dark and now you can see to read your menu without a flashlight.

Sinful people, sinful churches, sinful nations find it very easy to get used to the darkness of this world. The world embraces its own sinful ways. Jesus said, "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." (John 3:19)  Roaches and bugs of every sort hide in dark places in your house: behind cups and saucers in your cabinets, behind the cabinet drawers.  When the light is turned on they scurry to find cover and protection from the light. Jesus further said, "For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." (John 3:20) For the sinful person, accustomed to the dark, turning on the light of God's word and the Gospel of Jesus Christ is like suddenly turning on the lights in a dark theater or having someone turn on the lights in your bedroom after you have fallen asleep.

"But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." (John 3:21) Saved people, Christian people, followers of Christ who have come to the Light of the World for salvation, love the light.  They enjoy being around other people who have discovered the Light.  Are you one of them?