Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1st Thessalonians 5:18 NIV)
This is the season of thanksgiving, although every day is an opportunity to give thanks, and when I look over my life, I know that I am blessed and highly favored and I do not deserve all that God has done in my life but to say that I have given thanks in all circumstances, key word here is all is certainly not true. I am certainly grateful that God has seen me through all my good days and my bad and despite my inability to be thankful in all circumstances, the Lord continues to bestow me with grace and mercy.
Just begin to think beloved, there have been some things in our lives where we certainly did not give thanks, if anything we did the opposite we cursed, we cried, we screamed, as Marvin Gaye said there were some things in our life where it made us holla and throw up our hands, and the question was asked what’s going on? pain is not pleasurable and many of us have not gotten to the place of job where he said though he slay me yet will I trust him. This is good in theory; it sounds good, how do we translate theory into practice, and in all things, give thanks. How do we begin to say I will bless the lord always and his praises will continually be in my mouth? Without a firm foundation in God giving thanks will only remain superficial.
Well, when many of us begin to look over our lives and we know the lord has seen us through each valley, trials and tribulations over again in our marriages, with our children, health related issues, death, tragedies, financial down turns; we can begin to think things over and know that we have had some good days, some hills to climb but all our good days out ways our bad days and we should not complain but give thanks. We must learn how to not waver, to be consistent, and of sober mind, also steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Be thankful; pray and remain joyful, through all the storm clouds and disappointment’s in life; when we have learned this, we have learned how to trust God with all our heart mind and soul; to understand and know that God is sovereign and we have victory through Christ Jesus. God Bless and happy thanksgiving.
I was talking to a friend the other day and we were reminiscing about our youth and how we use to “run away from home.” She would run away upstairs to a favorite neighbor’s house and it became such a routine, that no questions were asked and the neighbor would tell her what was on the stove for dinner and what was in the refrigerator to eat; eventually her mother would call because she knew her daughter was in a safe place. I would run away to my grandmother’s house and my father would say “good” he did not close the screen door until I entered my grandmother’s house. My father could see my grandmother’s house from our home. I ran away on a regular basis that it became such a routine that my grandmother would never say anything but hand me my pillows and blankets. This was my safe place, my judgement free zone.
Well, there is nowhere to run now, as the saying goes you can run but you cannot hide and when you come out of hiding we still have the same issues before we attempted to find a place of refuge. Our loved ones will call the police and the next thing you know, Eyewitness news and CNN has your face plastered all over the television and a few days away, turns into a missing persons case.
Psalm 91 lets us know that the Lord is our refuge and fortress, in him will I trust. There is no greater place to cast your anxiety and problems because as 1st Peter lets us know that the Lord cares for us even when we feel like we are alone. The great hymn of the church tells us There’s not a Friend like the lowly Jesus: No, not one! None else could heal all our souls’ diseases: No, not one! Jesus Knows all about our struggles; he will guide till the day is done there’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus no not one. When you are in direct relationship with God there is no need to run. Isaiah tells us that the Lord offers a hiding place from the storms of life.
I am grateful that the Lord is my refuge and fortress and when life seems to become a bit overwhelming I have a place of refuge whether I am at work, home, in my car, the grocery store in other public places or quiet places. I hope that you will allow the Lord to be your place of refuge when you might feel like running away. God Bless
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 91:4 (KJV)
Many of us at one time or another in life have been caught in a rain storm without an umbrella or a hat. There have even been some storms where we have been prepared with a rain coat, an umbrella and a hat. Unfortunately, the rain and the wind turned our umbrella inside out, our hat blew away and our rain coat did not keep our clothes dry. There are so many other times in life where we may have not felt protected by people and edifices. People live in areas of the country where there have been earthquakes, sink holes and hurricanes. Some have been let down by people in their life who was supposed to protect them and care for them. Whether in childhood or even as a vulnerable senior.
I am grateful that my Lord and savior Jesus has kept me under his wings and covered me with his feathers throughout the course of my life. Job had the hedge of protection, Satin was not given permission to touch Jobs life, because God was confident that Jobs actions in the face of calamity and tragedy would continue to live and trust God. I trust God, as I have matured in my faith I trust God more. I have been caught in many of life’s rain storms and God has seen me through time and time again. The prophet Isaiah said When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. The Lord has kept me through it all and continues to not let me drown and burn. As a Registered Nurse, we have something called evidence based practice, where the individual patients represent the proven research and outcomes instead of a mouse in a laboratory. My life represents the evidence that God has kept me under his wings and whatever storm clouds are ranging in my life, I trust the Lord through it all. I encourage you to trust God through it all. God bless
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