Next Level Thankful (1)
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How To Be Thankful In A Difficult Season!
in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
We all have seasons where it’s hard to be thankful during Thanksgiving.
It is even more difficult when we realize it is the will of God for us in Christ Jesus!
How can you thank God when the doctor has just diagnosed you with cancer?
How can you thank God when your future son in law is the spawn of Satan?
How can you thank God when your spouse has just left you?
How can you thank God when you don’t see a way out of your present negative circumstance?
These are things that make for a tough season, and the holiday season seems to make it worse. But guess what, you can still be thankful.
In fact God tells us to be thankful IN all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT.
The key to this verse is found in the word “IN.” God doesn’t say we have to give thanks “FOR” all circumstances. God doesn’t expect you to be thankful for everything in your life—because there’s a lot of bad in your life.
We all know there’s a lot of sin and evil in the world. It would be masochistic to thank God FOR sin and evil in the world.
But God does say we can and should be thankful IN all circumstances—even the worst of times in our lives.
So, how can we be thankful even when we don’t feel like it?
I like to remember these six things and they help me choose to be thankful, even IN a bad season in my life!
Thank God for these six things:
I. God’s GRACE for you is CONTINUAL!
For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.
What is grace? It is God’s unmerited favor extended to sinners.
It is God’s supernatural power for victorious daily living extended to saints!
How is grace realized by sinners and or saints?
For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
How much grace can you receive? For of His fullness we have all received, and Grace upon Grace upon Grace . . .
The time will come when we will realize that every good thing we have is a GIFT of GRACE from God!
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
II. God’s PLAN for you is OBTAINABLE!
For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.
God’s plans are bigger than our mistakes! They are bigger than the trials in front of us!
How do we know the plans God has for us are obtainable?
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Even through difficulties, God’s plan is at work in your life! He is CAUSING all things to work together for good!
If you love God, you have been CALLED to HIS purpose and He is working it out!
III. God’s SANCTIFICATION of you is RECOGNIZABLE!
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
No matter what you go through, God will use it to sanctify you, change you for the better!
Remember this truth, God is always at work IN you, He is making you more like Jesus!
He even uses your suffering to grow your character!
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
Whenever I am going through difficult circumstances and or seasons, it helps me to remember that suffering helps me to endure and endurance builds Christ-like character!
The end result is that God’s Sanctification of you is Recognizable by others!
IV. God’s PRESENCE in you is TANGIBLE!
The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.
The truth is, you are never alone! God is with you all the time, no matter what you are going through!
Jesus said His Peace is with you, He said His Presence is with you and the Lord will manifest is tangible Presence whenever we call upon Him!
V. God’s HOME for you is ETERNAL!
“In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
Knowing the reality and hardship of suffering, pain and evil in this world, if our hope was simply for the quality of life we have in this world, it would not be worth it!
If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.
VI. God’s PROMISE to you is ESSENTIAL!
“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
The promise of the Return of Christ is essential to our perseverance, hope and character!
The promise of the Return of Christ helps us makes sense of the evil that is prevalent in the world.
When Christ Returns to the earth, He will put an end to evil in this world!
When Christ Returns to the earth, He will rescue Israel and Israel will be redeemed!
When Christ Returns to the earth, we will be with Him, reign with Him and worship Him forever and forever, AMEN!
Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus!
So, today, do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Jesus is the Way, Jesus the Truth and Jesus is the Life!
Are you walking the right Way? Are you walking in the Truth? Are you living the Life Jesus has Planned for you?
If not, why not? Today is the day of Salvation, Tomorrow may be the day of Judgment, why not choose Salvation today?