In Everything Give Thanks

In Everything Give Thanks

By Lonnie C. Crowe

                Because life can be difficult and people are free to make unwise decisions that adversely affect us, we can become weary, fearful and decidedly negative.  What is worse, we often misquote scripture by saying that we are to be thankful for everything.  God does not tell us to be thankful for everything, but to be thankful in everything.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV) ¹⁶  Rejoice always, ¹⁷  pray without ceasing, ¹⁸  in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

                Empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit we can do just that.  The world situation is bleak, but in Jesus Christ, we can move into the joy of the Lord in spite of what is happening around us.  Every day we can say, “This is the day the Lord has made and I have determined that I am going to rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24).

                I rejoice and give thanks because there is no god like Jehovah.  He is all good and all loving.  If something is good, it comes from God.  If it isn’t good, it has another source.  Even when adverse circumstances surround me, I rejoice in the knowledge that He is able to make all things work together for good to those who love Him and are walking according to His will. (Romans 8:28.)

                I rejoice and give thanks because God is Jehovah Jirah.  He has gone ahead of my circumstances and has made provision for me.  He is my source and my sustainer.

                I praise Him because He is Jehovah Rapha, my healer.  In the shed blood of Jesus Christ, He has healed my sin-sick soul.  He has touched my body and brought life and health.  He has soothed my fear and trauma and brought me peace.

                Thank you, Father God, for making me your child, for bringing me hope and joy in a world mired in hopelessness, for loving me when I am at my most unlovable, for sharing both my tears and my laughter, for giving me a new song to sing, for “giving me beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” (Isaiah 61:3)

Amen.

Thanksgiving in the Highest

Thanksgiving in the Highest

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Revelation 5:13 (NKJV)

^“And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: ‘Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever.’”

            It is in thanksgiving that we praise God for what He has done in our lives. In thanksgiving, we sing as David sang: Psalm 30:11-12 (NKJV)  “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.  

            However, it is in adoration that we praise God for Who He is.  In adoration we join with John as he observed those worshipping around the throne in heaven. Revelation 5:11-13 (NKJV) “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!’

       “And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: ‘Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!’” 

            Let us begin this holiday season by praising God for all that He has done in our lives remembering always that the greatest gift He has given us is salvation through the atoning work of Jesus on the Cross.  Let us then move into adoration of Who He is. He is the Beginning and the End, Creator and Sustainer of the universe, Redeemer, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  He is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent.  He is the Ancient of Days,  the Lion of Judah, and He has chosen to call us His friends.

            Psalm 34:3 (NKJV)  “Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.”