“Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything,
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20
I know, I know – in the United States it is the Thanksgiving Holiday – a day traditionally set aside to remember the Pilgrims act of giving thanks to God for the harvest they enjoyed and to celebrate with our own friends and families with a bountiful feast. That also means this blog must do the obligatory message on giving thanks. My prayer is that you receive today’s message as so much more than
just what is traditionally written about.
We have been looking at submission in the life of a Christ follower. The act of submission and the heart of thankfulness are linked in very important ways. Our love for God and obedience to His will in our lives is not something we are to present with a grudging attitude or “let’s-get-this-over-with” mindset. Rather, we are to embrace even the trials and afflictions as opportunities to grow in our love, service and knowledge of Him. Let me give you just a few examples of how important giving of thanks is as revealed in scriptures through the lives of others (if you really want to see an example of submission and thankfulness linked together make sure to
check out the last example below!):
Infusing your prayers with thanksgiving –
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6-7
Singing songs of thanksgiving –
“For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there had been directors for
the musicians and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.” Nehemiah 12:46
Sunrise and sunset thanksgiving –
“They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD. They were to do the same in the evening” II Chronicles 23:30
“Worthy of suffering disgrace” thanksgiving –
“The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.” Acts 5:41
Let your submission to God flow out of a thankful heart not one
day a year but each moment of your life!
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20
I know, I know – in the United States it is the Thanksgiving Holiday – a day traditionally set aside to remember the Pilgrims act of giving thanks to God for the harvest they enjoyed and to celebrate with our own friends and families with a bountiful feast. That also means this blog must do the obligatory message on giving thanks. My prayer is that you receive today’s message as so much more than
just what is traditionally written about.
We have been looking at submission in the life of a Christ follower. The act of submission and the heart of thankfulness are linked in very important ways. Our love for God and obedience to His will in our lives is not something we are to present with a grudging attitude or “let’s-get-this-over-with” mindset. Rather, we are to embrace even the trials and afflictions as opportunities to grow in our love, service and knowledge of Him. Let me give you just a few examples of how important giving of thanks is as revealed in scriptures through the lives of others (if you really want to see an example of submission and thankfulness linked together make sure to
check out the last example below!):
Infusing your prayers with thanksgiving –
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6-7
Singing songs of thanksgiving –
“For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there had been directors for
the musicians and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.” Nehemiah 12:46
Sunrise and sunset thanksgiving –
“They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD. They were to do the same in the evening” II Chronicles 23:30
“Worthy of suffering disgrace” thanksgiving –
“The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.” Acts 5:41
Let your submission to God flow out of a thankful heart not one
day a year but each moment of your life!
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