God encourages us to give thanks to Him for everything, but how do we do it when everything seems falling apart in our lives? It is not easy to give thanks when we lost our jobs and not enough money to pay the rent and the bills, or when we found out from our doctor that we have six months to live, or when we are going through a divorce or lost all of our possessions due to a natural disaster. Many circumstances in this world can easily shatter our comfort and dreams. Think of Job in the Old Testament; in an instant, He lost all His sons, possessions, and good health, yet he refused to curse God. How did he do it?
In order for us to always give thanks to God in everything, regardless of our circumstances, we need to realize in our hearts and mind that everything that we have came from God. Here's what Job said after he lost everything, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." (Job 1:21). Job acknowledged that God could give and take away everything that He had because God was sovereign over everything. Although Job lost everything, He counted everything that He had as a blessing. His very life was a blessing: having a wonderful family that he had once was a blessing, having possessions that he had once was a blessing, or having good health before he suffered from his illness was a blessing.
When we realized that everything we have is a blessing from God, and we do not deserve it, we become thankful for everything. We become ungrateful when we do not realize how much God has given us. We need to remember that we were naked when we were born and had nothing. Let us thank God for all His blessings and appreciate all the people around us this thanksgiving. May we all have a blessed and safe thanksgiving. I thank God, and I appreciate all of you.
Ask yourself these questions: How do I continue to be thankful when I am going through difficult situations? Do I appreciate God for all the blessings that He has given me? Do I appreciate others? If so, have I expressed thankfulness to them?
Write down all the worries that you are facing today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, thank you for all the blessings that you have given me. Thank you for reminding me that everything that I have came from you. Thank you to my family and friends. Please help me to continue to give praise to you in every circumstance. Please help me now with (mention your prayer requests). In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
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