Develop a Thankful Heart! Give God Thanks!

Greetings! I am so happy you are here to read and study the Word of God with me. The Word of God is life and knowing it is the key to living a blessed life. Allow the Holy Spirit to help you receive His revelation of Truth today. Eric

Each of us has or will experience various episodes of adversity from various sources. (John 16:33). When those difficult things come, we can make one of two choices concerning how to handle them. We can choose to concentrate and focus on the negative and allow the negatives to consume our thoughts and actions or we can choose to be courageous and depend on our faith in Christ and the Holy Spirit's presence to overcome the challenges and live in the peace we have in Jesus.

Jesus came to Earth as the Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6). Thus, when we depend on Him, even in the midst of trouble, we can experience that deep sense of peace and well-being He informed us we have in Him. (John 16:33).

When we are in the midst of those times of pressure, distress, affliction or tribulation, which we have been warned are coming, then, we can choose, rather than to give in to the turmoil and upset, to obey a command we have been given in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (Amplified Bible) which instructs us, "in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus."

Before we go on, let me preface the rest of the lesson, with these words - we absolutely know and understand that we all have times when our hearts are burdened or broken by circumstances we face that are beyond our control. We face times when we find it difficult to know how to pray, let alone rejoice or offer thanks. However, when we face grievous situations, God surely understands grief and ministers to our broken hearts with His tender compassionate love. His heart's desire is that the broken-hearted will be mended.

"Giving thanks in everything is a learned spiritual practice. Our motivation for giving thanks in every circumstance is the desire to please our Father in all ways, including service and obedience." (Kingdom Dynamics NSFLB). When we can't think of what to pray or how to pray, the Holy Spirit in us helps us pray and encourages us to obey (to do God's will) and then, enables us to pray with thanksgiving, even during the storms of life.

We need to have gratitude as a constant attitude regardless of life's circumstances.

We know that the early church faced persecution and hardships, as Jesus did, and yet, we see Paul, encouraging them in the midst of it all to maintain a spirit of thankfulness. "When we can give thanks in every circumstance, it reflects our trust in God's sovereignty and goodness." (Bible Hub Bible Study).

Romans 8:28 reveals, "He works all things for the good of those who love Him." Agathos, translated good in this verse means: for good or to advantage. The Word of God is truth and we can trust it, even in those times we find ourselves in the middle of heart wrenching circumstances. "This attitude of gratitude is not dependent on external conditions but is rooted in faith and the assurance of God's presence and provision." ( Bible Hub Study Bible).

In spite of our circumstances, we each have reasons to be thankful. We can be thankful for life, sunshine, rain, family, provision, friends, church families, jobs, trees .... You see, everything we have comes from God. Romans 11:36 NLT, "For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen."

In the United States, we celebrate a day set aside as a national holiday for Thanksgiving. Believers give thanks to God for His blessings. I have put together a Scriptural list of some of the things we can be thankful for, no matter the circumstances of our lives.It would be wonderful if you could start developing a Thankful Heart by thanking God every day for these things!

Thank You Lord :

The Word of God is eternal and immutable! Isaiah 40:8 (BSB) reads, "The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." Psalm 119:89 (BSB) reveals, "Your Word, O LORD, is everlasting; it is firmly fixed in heaven."

He is good and His loving devotion endures forever! Psalm 118:1, "Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!" The phrase 'his steadfast love endures forever,' "highlights the enduring nature of God's covenant love. It signifies a loyal, faithful love that is not dependent on human actions but is rooted in God's character." (Bible Hub Study Bible). God is love! No matter what!

He gives us the victory! 1 Corinthians 15:57, "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." "In the New Testament, the victory always refers to the conquest accomplished for the believer by Christ! [Christ has already won! Thus the Believer doesn't fight for victory - but rather from victory!" (HELPS Word-studies). "The resurrection of Christ brings victory over sin, the law and death." (Textual notes NSFLB).

Nothing can separate us from God's love! Romans 8:38,39, "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Christ's present love is active at every moment in the Christian's life We are never separated from Christ's love in this life!

He has given us an indescribable gift, of the Messiah! 2 Corinthians 9:15, "Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!" "Jesus' grace and salvation are beyond human comprehension and expression. They are of divine origin and are of immeasurable value." (Bible Hub Study Bible).

God forgives our sins and heals our diseases! Psalm 103:3, "who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases." 'Forgives' salach, means: pardon, relieve someone of the burden of the offense. 'Heals' rapha, means: mend, repair and thoroughly make whole.

Heals 'all' your disease: physical, emotional and spiritual ailments! Isaiah 53:4,5, "Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds (stripes) we are healed. 'Stripes' are scourging, blows and wounds; iniquities' are sin, faults and perversity; 'grief and sorrows' are physical afflictions and spiritual afflictions.

He meets all of our need through Jesus! Philippians 4:19, "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." 'Needs' means: that which is required; lack, necessity! It is "the condition of one deprived of those things which he is scarcely able to do without!" (Thayer's Greek Lexicon).

He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings! Ephesians 1:3, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places." "Spiritual blessings" are those which emanate from the Divine Spirit! We are chosen, have redemption, adoption, forgiveness and the sealing of the Spirit laying a foundation for identity and assurance. This also includes and refers to the gifts of the Holy Spirit, found in 1 Corinthians 12)." (Bible Hub Study Bible).

He made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses! Ephesians 2:5, "even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--"

Our citizenship is in heaven! Philippians 3:20, "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ."

Jesus is preparing a place for us! John 14:2, "In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?" 'House' is residence, by implication 'family!' 'Rooms' are dwelling places, or lodging. He is making that place ready!

We have redemption through the blood of Jesus! Ephesians 1:7, "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace," Redemption literally is buying back, what was previously forfeited or lost. We ae purchased from our debt of sin and brought back to being in Christ.

Jesus is always interceding for us! Hebrews 7:25, "Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them." 'Intercession' conveys appeals, pleads and intervenes.

When we face danger and transitory things, He is with us! Isaiah 43:2, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you." God's intervention ensures safety, no matter how daunting the challenges. 'Water' and 'rivers' indicate danger, violence and transitory things. You will not be overcome if you trust in God's power and presence. 'Through the fire' indicates divine deliverance and the refining process believers go through. (The trials God's people endure.) Note however, the promise is not the absence of trials but the presence of God in the midst of them.

He will never leave nor forsake us! Hebrews 13:5, "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." There are dangers connected to materialism and greed. "The love of money is often associated with idolatry, as it can become a substitute for reliance on God." (Bible Hub Study Bible). When we totally trust and depend on God's unfailing presence and provision, we will not fall into a dependency of or putting our trust in money.

He cares for us! 1 Peter 5:7 (CSB), "casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." He is concerned for, pays attention and takes an interest in us. When we release our anxieties and cares to Him, He gives comfort and strength for us to face the difficult or painful struggles in our lives. When my wife Donna's father's health condition was deteriorating, she was experiencing a number of stress related physical symptoms. One evening at a church service, a friend in Christ spoke 1 Peter 5:7 to her. The revelation of that truth, that God cared and was there for her, enabled her to cast her care on the Lord and rest in His love and care through the coming days and during her loss.

God loves you! John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." God loves you so much, He sent His Son to die for you.

Jesus gives us peace! John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." Jesus' peace is unconditional and eternal. 'Troubled' implies agitation and disturbance. His peace calms our stress, upset and turmoil.

He calls us friends! John 15:14, "You are my friends if you do what I command you." Jesus calls us into a personal and intimate relationship of friendship when we experience loyalty and mutual support. A friend is someone dearly loved and a trusted confidant. "Philos expresses an experience - based love" (HELPS Word-studies). What an amazing gift that we are able to have - an experience-based love with the God of the Universe!

He is our help! Hebrews 13:6, "So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" The Lord is our 'help' - one who gives help at the right time and who meets our real need!

Praise God!

When troubles seem to overwhelm us, we need to set our minds on what we can be thankful for and then - Be Thankful!!

Give God thanks!

Develop a Thankful Heart!

He is ever faithful and never changes!

Being thankful for what God has done and is doing in our lives, builds our faith and helps us to trust and cast our care on Him even more!

All Scripture is taken from the English Standard Version unless noted otherwise.

NSFLB New Spirit Filled Life Bible

NLT New L:iving Translation

BSB Berean Standard Bible