Happy lifegiving and thank you day
17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. — 1 Thessalonians 5:17-19 (NASB)
By Bobby R. Henry, Sr.
For the past two weeks I have been taught a new way to appreciate and adjust to situations that initially, “just don’t rest well with my psyche.”
Present state of affairs may seem to cripple you and bind you like an insect caught in a spider’s web, however that’s not the end and there is a comforting antidote to bring some understanding and hope to lessening the temporary condition.
Holidays, for those of us who rejoice and celebrate them, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukah and many, many more, offer us the time to concentrate, explore and seek a deeper meaning to that which we profess to love.
One of my grandsons recently experienced an incident that could have ended his life. During our most recent conversation, he shared with me that amongst other things, that he didn’t want to die.
“Grandpa, it’s not that I don’t understand we all got to die. I don’t want to die. I love life and it’s good.”
The incident afforded us a chance to delve into life’s mortality’s time frame-if you will.
Being the young man that he is, I thought he was going to tell me how invincible he was, yet he told me that he was thankful because life is good too. Never mind that he is not wealthy, that he doesn’t have some fancy car nor does he live in some big fine home; he is just happy being alive with what he has.
He was taking me on a spiritual trip that I had no idea he was capable of. It was like he jump out of his present discomfort and wandered down some holy trail.
If I were to equate this experience with a biblical reference it would be: Paul’s letter to the Philippians 4:12 “I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.” (NASB)
He was able to make me rehearse mentally the understanding that Pastor Davidson shared with us concerning the word UNTIL as it was used in Hosea 5:15. “I will go away and return to My place Until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face; In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me. (NASB)
Until allows us an opportunity to ‘get right’. Whether that ‘get right’ is an attitude adjustment, asking for forgiveness, removing trashy things from our lives or giving continual thanks for ALL THINGS.
So for me, what I have learned over the past two weeks in the church and from my family, I can honestly say that UNTIL God comes back, I will have continual thanksgiving on my lips to Him for ALL THINGS that He has done, will do and is doing right now.
Because of His giving we have life and I am thankful for being able to learn how to and to apply it to making the best out of any situation. I pray today……. Lord give unto me according to your will.
Dear God,
I want to thank You for what you have already done. I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards, I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better, I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me, I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears, I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves, I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet, I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job, I am going to thank you right now.
I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief, I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed,
I am thanking you right now. I am thanking you because I am alive. I am thanking you because I made it through the day’s difficulties. I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles. I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better. I’m thanking you because FATHER, YOU haven’t given up on me. God is just so good, and he’s good all the time. In Your son Jesus Christ’s precious and holy name I pray. Amen, and Amen.
