Someone might say, «I still do not have a job, even though I have prayed and the church has prayed for me». Or he might say, «Thank You, Lord, for the daily bread You give me». Do you see a difference? In the first case we hear murmuring, in the second – thanksgiving. Is it really necessary to thank God for the daily bread? Absolutely, since many people are forced to go hungry from day to day.
You might have nothing except salt and sugar in your house today. Start giving thanks to God for what you have and you will see what God can do with it. Always look for reasons to give thanks to God. Apostle Paul said: «Now godliness with contentment is great gain» (1Timothy, 6:6).
Many of us do not thank God as we ought to, because we do not purposely keep in mind what God has done or is doing for us. We forget because we do not write it down. When I was a teenager, we often sang a song that said: «Count your blessings! Name every one of them, one after another, and you will be amazed at what the Lord has done!» I advise every one of you to record every miracle and every blessing that God does in our lives. You can use different methods: either modern technologies or simple writing.
How many times did you call out to God this week? What about this month, this year? You called out to Him and He answered. Do not repeat the mistake of these 9 Israelites that were healed from leprosy but forgot to thank God for it! Give thanks to God for all things!
«For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren» (Romans, 8:29).
It is God’s desire for us to be conformed into the image of God’s only Son – Jesus Christ. Gratitude is one of the qualities that help us to do that. Later we will see how gratitude was demonstrated in the life of Jesus and how many events in His life were directly connected to thanksgiving.
1. Being grateful is God’s will for us: «In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you»(1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Doing the will of God is very important for us because it gives us assurance in God and makes God’s grace and favour available for us.
1. Use the spiritual weapons God has given you: «Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God» (Ephesians, 6:10-17).
In order to determine whether we are being disciplined by God or we are dealing with the attack of the enemy, first we must ask ourselves some questions:
§ What circumstances do I find myself in? (see Colossians, 3:17)
o Am I where God wants to see me?
Do you often experience different hardships? Are you facing trouble everywhere you go? It can either be a spiritual attack or you are being disciplined by God Himself. How can you distinguish what exactly is going on with you? Let’s try to answer this question.
A believer must learn to see the difference between spiritual warfare and God’s discipline. In different life situations we must firmly know whether we are disciplined by God or we are dealing with a spiritual attack that requires of us to get engaged in spiritual warfare.
If we listen to the conviction of the Holy Spirit that is communicated through the people God sends to us to correct us and repent of our sins, then He stops all the judgments. But, if we continue in our stubbornness and resist Him, God allows more trouble in our lives in order to show us that there are spiritual problems in us that we need to resolve. If after that we still resist Him and refuse to humble ourselves before Him, then He increases penalties. God does that because He loves us and does not want any of His children to perish.
