Are you thankful for right now?
Right this moment, can you look at your circumstance and be thankful?
For some, your answer is “Sure thing!” For others, you’re saying, “Thankful? For this?”
In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Paul writes:
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
That’s a tall order, isn’t it?
Always joyful?
With this job? With this marriage? With these bills?
Pray continually?
Who has the time to do that?
Give thanks?
For the pink slip? For kids that don’t respect me?
I love meeting people who can read this passage of Scripture and obey. Most of the time, these are people who’ve been through the fire and have seen God’s miraculous hand in some form or fashion. These are the people who let God carry them when they could no longer do it themselves. They testify to God’s goodness and His love. Their witness gives us hope.
For those of us who struggle with this (I imagine it’s the vast majority of us), and for those of us in circumstances that seem hopeless, let’s try something.
Let’s literally count our blessings.
Grab a piece of paper and a pen. Write them down. All of your blessings. Everything you’re thankful for. Begin with the fact you’re breathing and move up from there.
Once you have your list, no matter how long or short it is, thank God for each and every thing.
Then do one more thing. Write “JESUS” in capital letters and focus solely on Him, and be thankful.
My prayer is for all of us to find joy in Christ today.
Are you living a life of constant joy in Christ, continuous prayer and thanksgiving? Please share how you were able to get to that point. People need your encouragement today.
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You have a story to tell. It’s a story with three primary characters — the old you, Jesus Christ, and the new you. Encourage others today. Share your story with Hands and Feet Marketing, and we’ll share it with those who read this blog.