In All Things Give Thanks!

Sometimes giving thanks comes easily. When prayers are answered, doors are opening, our family is doing well, and life feels peaceful, it's easy to say, “Thank You, Lord!”

But what about the seasons that don't feel good?

What about the unanswered prayer, the disappointment, the unexpected change, the loss, the waiting, or the situation we simply don't understand?

The Bible tells us:

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” — 1sr Thessalonians 5:18

Notice Scripture doesn't say to give thanks for everything. It says to give thanks IN everything.

There are things we experience that we would never choose, and God doesn't expect us to pretend that painful things aren't painful. But even in those moments, we can still find reasons to thank Him.

We can thank Him... because He is still with us.

We can thank Him... because His grace is still sufficient.

We can thank Him... because His promises haven't changed.

We can thank Him... because He is still working, even when we can't see it.

We can thank Him... because our circumstances don't determine His faithfulness.

Thanksgiving isn't just something we do when life is good. Thanksgiving is an act of faith when life is hard.

Sometimes “Thank You, Lord” really means:

“Lord, I don't understand this, but I trust You.”

“Lord, this isn't what I wanted, but I know You're still good.”

“Lord, I can't see what You're doing, but I believe You're working.”

That's a different kind of praise. It's praise that doesn't depend on circumstances. It's gratitude rooted in knowing who God is.

Habakkuk understood this. He described a situation where the crops failed, the fields produced no food, and the livestock were gone. Yet he declared:

“Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” — Habakkuk 3:18

That little word “yet” carries a powerful message.

Things aren't going the way I hoped... yet I will praise Him.

I don't understand what God is doing... yet I will trust Him.

My prayer hasn't been answered... yet I will thank Him.

My circumstances haven't changed... yet God is still good.

Maybe today you can't thank God for everything that's happening. That's okay. Start thanking Him IN the middle of it.

Thank Him for another day.

Thank Him for the prayers He has already answered.

Thank Him for the doors He closed that you later realized needed closing.

Thank Him for carrying you through things you once thought would break you.

Thank Him for His mercy, His grace, His provision, and His presence.

And then thank Him for what He's doing that you haven't seen yet. Because sometimes the greatest expression of faith is simply lifting your hands in the middle of uncertainty and saying:

“Lord, I don't understand it all, but I still trust You. I still praise You. And IN ALL things, I will give thanks.”

You may not be thankful for everything you're going through, but you can still find something to thank God for while you're going through it. In ALL things, give thanks!

---------

Suggested Prayer:

"Dear Lord, teach me to have a thankful heart in every season. When life is good, help me remember where my blessings come from. When life is difficult, help me remember that You haven't changed. Even when I don't understand what You're doing, give me faith to trust Your heart. Thank You for Your goodness, Your mercy, Your grace, and Your presence. Whatever today brings, help me choose gratitude and say, “Yet I will praise You.” In Jesus' name, Amen."

Get Your Focus Back on God!

There are times when life pulls our attention in a hundred different directions. We focus on the problem, the people, the disappointment, the uncertainty, and everything that could go wrong. Before long, we've spent so much time looking at what's around us that we've stopped looking up.

Sometimes we simply need the reminder: Get your focus back on God.

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith...” — Hebrews 12:2

Peter learned this lesson when Jesus called him to walk on the water. As long as Peter's attention was on Jesus, he was doing what seemed impossible. But then something changed.

“But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink...” — Matthew 14:30

The storm didn't suddenly appear. The wind was already blowing. The waves were already moving. What changed was Peter's focus. And sometimes that's exactly what happens to us.

The problem may be real.

The battle may be real.

The uncertainty may be real.

The hurt may be real.

But God is still greater than everything happening around you.

When all we see is the storm, fear grows. When all we think about is the problem, discouragement grows. When all we listen to are the voices around us, confusion grows. But when we turn our attention back toward God, something begins to change within us.

Isaiah 26:3 says: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

Notice that God doesn't promise there won't be trouble around us. He promises peace when our minds are stayed on Him. Maybe today you've been looking at the waves too long. You've been replaying the situation, worrying about tomorrow, wondering how everything is going to work out.

Get your focus back on God.

You don't have to know how He's going to fix it to know that He's faithful. You don't have to understand what He's doing to trust His hand. And you don't have to see the entire path to take the next step with Him. The storm may still be raging, but Jesus is still standing in the middle of it.

Stop measuring the size of your God by the size of your problem. Instead, measure your problem by the greatness of your God.

Get your eyes off the waves.

Get your mind off the “what ifs.”

Get your heart out of the worry.

And get your focus back on God.

Because when your focus changes, your perspective changes—and when your eyes are fixed on Jesus, you'll remember that the One who called you out onto the water is also the One who won't let you drown.

-------

Suggested Prayer:

"Dear Lord, help me get my focus back on You. When circumstances compete for my attention and fear tries to take over my thoughts, remind me to look toward You. Help me trust You even when I don't understand what You're doing. Keep my mind stayed on You and my heart anchored in Your promises. No matter what is happening around me, help me remember that You are still in control. In Jesus' name, Amen."

--------

Today's Reminder:

Don't let what you're facing become bigger in your eyes than the God who is walking with you through it. Get your focus on God

Never Let the Lies of the Enemy!

There are moments when the enemy’s voice seems especially loud, and he this lies over and over into your ear and mind, that he tries to get to penetrate your heart, “You’re not going to make it. Nothing is going to change. God has forgotten you. You’ve messed up too much. There’s no hope for this situation.”

And if we listen long enough, those lies can begin to sound like truth. ---But never let the lies of the enemy get louder than the promises of God.---

Jesus said of the enemy:

“When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” — John 8:44 ---The enemy speaks from a place of deception, but God speaks from a place of truth.

The enemy says, “You’re alone.” --- God says, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” — Hebrews 13:5

The enemy says, “You can’t handle this.” --- God says, “My grace is sufficient for thee.” — 2nd Corinthians 12:9

The enemy says, “There’s no way this can work out.” --- God says, “With God all things are possible.” — Matthew 19:26

The enemy says, “Your story is over.” --- God says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you... thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” — Jeremiah 29:11

The enemy wants us to focus on what we see, while God asks us to remember what He has said. That is why we have to fill our hearts and minds with the Word of God. When the enemy speaks fear, answer with Scripture. When he speaks doubt, remember God's faithfulness. When he reminds you of your past, remind yourself of God's grace. When he tells you there is no hope, remember that God is still writing your story. The enemy may be loud, but loud doesn't make him right. The Word of God tells us that the devil is the father of all lies, and the truth is not in him.

God's promises haven't changed because your circumstances have changed. His Word hasn't lost its power because you're walking through a difficult season. And His faithfulness hasn't ended because you can't yet see what He's doing.

So when the lies of the enemy start getting loud, turn up the truth, and remember the promises of God.

Speak His promises.

Remember His faithfulness.

Stand on His Word.

Trust His heart.

The enemy may have a voice, but God has the final word.

----------

Suggested Prayer:

"Dear Lord, help me recognize the lies of the enemy and refuse to give them a louder voice than Your truth. When fear, doubt, and discouragement try to overwhelm me, remind me of what You have spoken. Help me stand firmly on Your promises even when I cannot see the outcome. Your Word is truth, Your promises are sure, and You are faithful. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Keep Trusting While God Is Working!

"Keep Trusting While God Is Working!"

Isaiah 43:19 says, “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?”

Sometimes God begins the new thing before we can even recognize it.

So don't give up because today's picture doesn't look like the promise God placed in your heart.

Keep praying.

Keep believing.

Keep worshiping.

Keep serving.

Keep walking.

Keep trusting God.

Because the God who brought you this far didn't bring you here to abandon you.

Where you are is not necessarily where you're going. Your present situation may be painful, but pain doesn't get the final word. Your present situation may be disappointing, but disappointment doesn't get the final word. Your present situation may look impossible, but impossibility doesn't get the final word.

GOD GETS THE FINAL WORD!

Philippians 1:6 reminds us that the One who began the good work is also faithful to finish it.

So when you can't see the ending, trust the Author. When you don't understand the chapter, trust the One holding the pen. And when your present situation tells you, “This is how your story ends,” remind yourself: “No! God isn't finished with me yet!”