40 Days of PRAYER
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days of PRAYER
Day 24 | THANKSGIVING DAY | 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
40 Days of PRAYER
Day 24 | THANKSGIVING DAY | 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
THANKSGIVING DAY
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
“Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Do you ever remember asking your parents for something when you were growing up? Did you sometimes GET what you were asking for? Did you sometimes not? How did you feel either way? Probably, you were HAPPY when you got your request and disappointed when you didn’t, right? After all, you were only a kid and you couldn’t understand ALL the ramifications that your folks had to consider in their granting or rejecting your request.
Now, let’s think about God. Has He sometimes answered your prayer positively? Has He sometimes NOT responded to your prayer request? How did you feel about that?
You see, from God’s perspective, we are ALL still like little children. And just like little children, we don’t always ask appropriately. After all, HE knows the future and knows what ultimately is best for us AND for the one for whom we may be praying. We don’t always see – in this life – WHY He allows what He allows. BUT we must learn to practice these essential verses: PRAY (all the time) and … and … IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS. You might ask, really, in everything? (YES). Even when my prayer is NOT answered? (YES). When my prayer IS answered? (YES). When He makes me wait for an answer (YES).
You see, it’s EASY to give thanks when the sun is shining and everything is coming up roses. But the real test of discipleship, that is, being a FOLLOWER of Jesus is… can we trust Him, praise Him, and thank Him in the dark days.
Today is Thanksgiving Day here in America. Things may look rocky, unstable, and divided, yet we need to DO this verse: “IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS.” Not FOR everything, but IN everything… even amid the turmoil.
Prayer: LORD, calm my heart and help me remember things for which I can be thankful. Help me this year to put some real THANKSGIVING into my THANKSGIVING. Amen.
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
“Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Do you ever remember asking your parents for something when you were growing up? Did you sometimes GET what you were asking for? Did you sometimes not? How did you feel either way? Probably, you were HAPPY when you got your request and disappointed when you didn’t, right? After all, you were only a kid and you couldn’t understand ALL the ramifications that your folks had to consider in their granting or rejecting your request.
Now, let’s think about God. Has He sometimes answered your prayer positively? Has He sometimes NOT responded to your prayer request? How did you feel about that?
You see, from God’s perspective, we are ALL still like little children. And just like little children, we don’t always ask appropriately. After all, HE knows the future and knows what ultimately is best for us AND for the one for whom we may be praying. We don’t always see – in this life – WHY He allows what He allows. BUT we must learn to practice these essential verses: PRAY (all the time) and … and … IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS. You might ask, really, in everything? (YES). Even when my prayer is NOT answered? (YES). When my prayer IS answered? (YES). When He makes me wait for an answer (YES).
You see, it’s EASY to give thanks when the sun is shining and everything is coming up roses. But the real test of discipleship, that is, being a FOLLOWER of Jesus is… can we trust Him, praise Him, and thank Him in the dark days.
Today is Thanksgiving Day here in America. Things may look rocky, unstable, and divided, yet we need to DO this verse: “IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS.” Not FOR everything, but IN everything… even amid the turmoil.
Prayer: LORD, calm my heart and help me remember things for which I can be thankful. Help me this year to put some real THANKSGIVING into my THANKSGIVING. Amen.