Encouragement

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Yea, once you start being thankful for things in your life (see Thankfulness Deflectors), you can just stay on a roll and keep that goodness going... keep His Spirit in touch with yours... and keep your heart tuned to His leading. See... being thankful puts you in a place of praying too; it's a prayer-vehicle, if you will... a means of communicating appreciation to the Lord, gratefulness to the Lord, and certainly acknowledging His presence in your life, regardless of the circumstances. Right? Almost anyone can 'give thanks' for thankful-worthy things or events, but being thankful through any and all your moments each day... now THAT is prayer in action!

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (KJV) reminds us; "Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.", which again is hard to do 'because you should', but easy to do because you can. The difference is you are recognizing the leading hand of God in your life RIGHT in the midst of anguish, anxiety, turmoil, and a plethora of trials that would otherwise scare many people away from the Lord. That is where the Sheep and Goats Part Company, as I've written before.

How?
OK, how you can get this started and/or keep it going is well written in James 4:8 (KJV), which states; "Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.". That is to say that getting close to God also causes Him to take a step closer, too. He bridges that gap with you, He matches your move toward Him, He is fully engaged in your desire to be closer. Then, your hands are cleaned, your heart is purified and you will quite easily be 'praying without ceasing', only think on the praying as 'being thankful without ceasing'.

Why?
All this sounds special, and wholesome, and quite spiritual, I know... but, the core reason why you would do any of this 'perpetually thankful' stuff is clarified in Romans 15:13 (KJV), which reads; "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.", which is to say that as you experience a consistent and thankful life with the Lord, your spirit will be filled with joy, you will overflow with the power and peace of His Holy Spirit, and you will actually be On a Thankful Roll all over again!


G.W. Bill Elliott, Jr. MDiv
VocalBillity Devotionals - http://vocalbillity.blogspot.com

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