Passage of the Day: Ephesians 5: 20 [see in bold below] … 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
My Journal for Today: John MacArthur begins his devotional entry for this date in Strength for Today with a rather stark declaration: “I’m convinced that gratitude is the single greatest act of worship we can render to God.” And, of course, he is using the Apostle Paul’s exhortation in Eph. 5: 20 as support for this contention, pointing us toward this attitude of gratitude as a foundational element in our relationship with Christ.
When we have a life sustaining attitude of thankfulness (see also 1st Thes. 5: 18), it is probably one of the most “visible” evidences for the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives; and it is released by our surrender to God’s Spirit working in our heart. It is the visible evidence of God’s love working in and through the Christian (see John 13: 34, 35) which shines the Light of our Lord into a dark world and glorifies our Father in heaven (see Matt. 5: 16).
Certainly being thankful or grateful “… for everything,” as today’s verse exhorts, is not something my human, ever deceitful, heart can sustain (see Jer. 17: 9), especially in times of dire challenge, privation, or physical tribulation (see also James 1: 2 – 5 or 1st Peter 2: 20 – 21). A believer who can carry the attitude of thankfulness, which only God can provide, into and through the trials of life certainly is one who never forgets God’s goodness and mercy (see Ps. 106: 1), the gift of Christ Himself (see 2nd Cor. 9: 15), the triumph of the Gospel (see 2nd Cor. 2: 14), and Christ’s victory over death (see 1st Cor. 15: 56 – 57).
MacArthur closes his devotional for this date by pointing his readers, as I will here, to Hebrews 13: 15, which presents a perfectly apt summary of this lesson of the heart …
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SCRIPTURE: Heb. 13: 15 [NASB] Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His Name.
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I have to ask myself, “Is my life being lived out as an offering of gratitude in worship?” I’m afraid not as much as it should; but I’m bolstered by 2nd Cor. 12: 9 as always, telling me that God’s grace is sufficient, even in my weaknesses, to allow His strength to give me the attitude of gratitude which the Holy Spirit offers me continually.
My Prayer Today: Thank you, Lord! Amen
Journal Author’s Note: As with today’s journal entry above, I often cite quite a few Scripture references to support what I’m writing with the authority of God’s word. I hope that anyone who reads my writings will have the Berean attitude and motivation to check me out, looking up the passages cited if the reader doesn’t already have any of these references committed to memory. I don’t pretend to be a biblical scholar or anything but a pursuer of God’s truth; and I pray that you are equally seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we study His personhood this month. … <’BB><
Showing posts with label gratitude. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gratitude. Show all posts
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
May 15, 2011 … The Necessity of Grateful Prayer
Passage of the Day: Philippians 4: 6 - 7 … 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
My Journal for Today: If any Christian is looking for a scripture to “hang your hat” upon in this unpredictable and threatening world in which we live, go no further than this exhortation from the Apostle Paul as he wrote to believers who were being buffeted by some dangerous heresies and teachings (such as Judaism and Gnosticism) as well as persecution from Rome. There was much over which Christians could be anxious in Paul’s day; and there is even more today. And so, Paul’s admonition and prescription for handling the worries of life couldn’t be more pertinent for you and me today.
I truly believe, as Paul posits above in today’s highlight passage, that only Christians can find God’s peace to guard their hearts in the midst of the storms and tribulations of life. Paul exhorts that the Christian need not fret, worry, or be anxious about “ANYTHING.” That’s a tall claim; but it’s either true or not; and the more mature my faith in Christ has become, the more truth I’ve found in what Paul claims about God’s peace in today’s text. In fact, I maintain that our belief in and use of the truth of today’s passage, as well as that in Romans 8: 28, provides a measure of the maturity of the Christian. [And hopefully you have this latter verse memorized as well as today’s passage; if not, let me provide it here!]
SCRIPTURE: Romans 8: 28 … And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
If you can find peace trough prayer and know that a trying situation is for your ultimate well being as a believer, your faith is mature. However, to the degree we wallow in self-pity and anxiety, rather than looking for God’s will from prayer in the midst of trials, we need to grow in our faith. Right now, I think of the promise in Peter’s prayer of 1st Peter 5: 10 …
SCRIPTURE: 1st Peter 5: 10 … And the God of all grace, Who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
When we’re in the midst of life’s trials and tribulations, knowing and believing the truths of God’s word and His promises [see those above], … we Christians truly can find God’s peace, no matter what life may throw at us.
I’ve still got some growing to do; … how about you?
My Prayer Today: Lord, I so want to find your peace in the midst of the storms of life. Amen
Passage of the Day: Philippians 4: 6 - 7 … 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
My Journal for Today: If any Christian is looking for a scripture to “hang your hat” upon in this unpredictable and threatening world in which we live, go no further than this exhortation from the Apostle Paul as he wrote to believers who were being buffeted by some dangerous heresies and teachings (such as Judaism and Gnosticism) as well as persecution from Rome. There was much over which Christians could be anxious in Paul’s day; and there is even more today. And so, Paul’s admonition and prescription for handling the worries of life couldn’t be more pertinent for you and me today.
I truly believe, as Paul posits above in today’s highlight passage, that only Christians can find God’s peace to guard their hearts in the midst of the storms and tribulations of life. Paul exhorts that the Christian need not fret, worry, or be anxious about “ANYTHING.” That’s a tall claim; but it’s either true or not; and the more mature my faith in Christ has become, the more truth I’ve found in what Paul claims about God’s peace in today’s text. In fact, I maintain that our belief in and use of the truth of today’s passage, as well as that in Romans 8: 28, provides a measure of the maturity of the Christian. [And hopefully you have this latter verse memorized as well as today’s passage; if not, let me provide it here!]
SCRIPTURE: Romans 8: 28 … And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
If you can find peace trough prayer and know that a trying situation is for your ultimate well being as a believer, your faith is mature. However, to the degree we wallow in self-pity and anxiety, rather than looking for God’s will from prayer in the midst of trials, we need to grow in our faith. Right now, I think of the promise in Peter’s prayer of 1st Peter 5: 10 …
SCRIPTURE: 1st Peter 5: 10 … And the God of all grace, Who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
When we’re in the midst of life’s trials and tribulations, knowing and believing the truths of God’s word and His promises [see those above], … we Christians truly can find God’s peace, no matter what life may throw at us.
I’ve still got some growing to do; … how about you?
My Prayer Today: Lord, I so want to find your peace in the midst of the storms of life. Amen
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
2009 – Day 327.Nov 24 – Genuine Thanksgiving
Passage for Study: Acts 16: 16 - 40 … Acts 16 linked for study …
2nd Scripture Reference: Philippians 2: 1-18… Phil. 2 linked for study …
My Journal for Today: If you’ve been following what I’ve posted the last few days, led by my use of Chuck Swindoll’s devotional book, Great Days with the Great Lives, the focus has been on Paul’s model and Christlike attitudes of joy, contentment, and determination in the face of dire circumstances (i.e., imprisonment and threat of death). And obviously it flushes out a self examination (like Paul himself exhorted in 2nd Cor. 13: 5). We’ll get back to that in moment.
But today we focus on Paul’s attitude of thanksgiving so that we can look at whether we can have an attitude of gratitude in the face of pain or trials. And again, Paul shines the light of a Christlike model when it comes to thankgiving; and we can also read about it in another of his prison epistles (see Col. 4: 2 - 4) where he wrote, "Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. " Note how, in this passage, Paul requests prayer so that he can, with a thankful attitude, speak the Gospel clearly and powerfully to others. That was also his exhortation to the Philippians in Phil. 4: 6 - 7 [as I hope you have memorized that powerful passage].
Here was Paul, thinking that he could die any day during his imprisonment; and yet, he had a thankful heart for the love of other Christians whom he knew were praying for him and for his opportunity to share the truth of Christ with others [yes, even in prison]. So, let’s return to the self exam. How are we doing when it comes to an attitude of thankfulness in the face of ... well, you fill in the blank here with any test, trial, or trouble you’re facing or have faced? Does the light of gratitude shine through from us to others.
And Swindoll turns the spotlight directly on us in his devotional for today, asking several questions about our attitudes, remembering that God’s word, from the Apostle Paul, has charged us to have attitudes like that of Christ (see Phil. 2: 5). Let me quote these questions from Swindoll today for you to join me in doing a pop quiz for ourselves. Quoting C. Swindoll:
>>> Are you making a difference in the lives of those closest to you by the way you respond to your circumnstances?
>>> Are others impacted by your faith, or are they discouraged by your fears?
>>> Are the attitudes of unselfish humility, joyful acceptance, strong determination, and genuine thanksgiving evident in the way you’re dealing with life?
Personally, my friends, I’ve got a way to go after taking this “check-up from the neck up.” How about you?
My Prayer for Today: Lord, help me be more like You no matter where You may lead me Amen
2nd Scripture Reference: Philippians 2: 1-18… Phil. 2 linked for study …
My Journal for Today: If you’ve been following what I’ve posted the last few days, led by my use of Chuck Swindoll’s devotional book, Great Days with the Great Lives, the focus has been on Paul’s model and Christlike attitudes of joy, contentment, and determination in the face of dire circumstances (i.e., imprisonment and threat of death). And obviously it flushes out a self examination (like Paul himself exhorted in 2nd Cor. 13: 5). We’ll get back to that in moment.
But today we focus on Paul’s attitude of thanksgiving so that we can look at whether we can have an attitude of gratitude in the face of pain or trials. And again, Paul shines the light of a Christlike model when it comes to thankgiving; and we can also read about it in another of his prison epistles (see Col. 4: 2 - 4) where he wrote, "Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. " Note how, in this passage, Paul requests prayer so that he can, with a thankful attitude, speak the Gospel clearly and powerfully to others. That was also his exhortation to the Philippians in Phil. 4: 6 - 7 [as I hope you have memorized that powerful passage].
Here was Paul, thinking that he could die any day during his imprisonment; and yet, he had a thankful heart for the love of other Christians whom he knew were praying for him and for his opportunity to share the truth of Christ with others [yes, even in prison]. So, let’s return to the self exam. How are we doing when it comes to an attitude of thankfulness in the face of ... well, you fill in the blank here with any test, trial, or trouble you’re facing or have faced? Does the light of gratitude shine through from us to others.
And Swindoll turns the spotlight directly on us in his devotional for today, asking several questions about our attitudes, remembering that God’s word, from the Apostle Paul, has charged us to have attitudes like that of Christ (see Phil. 2: 5). Let me quote these questions from Swindoll today for you to join me in doing a pop quiz for ourselves. Quoting C. Swindoll:
>>> Are you making a difference in the lives of those closest to you by the way you respond to your circumnstances?
>>> Are others impacted by your faith, or are they discouraged by your fears?
>>> Are the attitudes of unselfish humility, joyful acceptance, strong determination, and genuine thanksgiving evident in the way you’re dealing with life?
Personally, my friends, I’ve got a way to go after taking this “check-up from the neck up.” How about you?
My Prayer for Today: Lord, help me be more like You no matter where You may lead me Amen
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