Category: thankfulness

A Life that Is Amazed and Astonished

Do you want to be amazed and astonished? If you do, then follow Jesus. He does amazing things and you will be astonished if you choose to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. You will see things that the only explanation is God. You will be amazed and astonished just as His earlier followers were.

Luke 5:4-10a When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.

Do as He says and exactly according to His Words and amazement will seize you when you see Him work. We walk by faith and when we do then we see Him work. The Lord never changes and is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Hebrews 13:7,8 Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Those who live the most exciting lives are the ones who live by faith. Think of the people you know who trust the Lord and imitate their faith as you see the outcome of their lives. The Lord shows no partiality and wants to bless your life in the same way but you must live by faith in the Son of God who gave Himself up for us.

Romans 2:11 For there is no partiality with God.

He shows Himself strong on behalf of those who trust Him and will wait on Him.

Isaiah 64:4 For from days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear,
Nor has the eye seen a God besides You,
Who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him.

The Lord wants us to marvel at how wonderful He is. The word wonderful means full of wonder and that is who He is.

John 5:20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel.

The Lord promised that greater works would be done through you and for you, just as the Father did great works through Jesus so that those who followed Him then would marvel.

Luke 5:22-26 But Jesus, aware of their reasonings, answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins have been forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,”—He said to the paralytic—“I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home.” Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. They were all struck with astonishment and began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

Those who did not believe were reasoning in their hearts. Don’t live by reasoning but live by faith. You will understand afterward but not before. We want to understand first and then believe but faith goes beyond human reasoning because God is not limited by our reasonings. This does not mean that you throw out your brain but it means that God and His Word is your frame of reference and that you mind is not the final authority. You will not always understand but it may be because you don’t know or are looking at or for the wrong thing. You will see remarkable things if you look to the Lord and do what His Word says. That is the definition of faith. Faith is coming to Him through His Word and believing it.

Hebrews 11:1,2 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval.

By faith the men of old gained approval and you too, will please the Lord when you live by faith.

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

A life of faith is trusting in the Lord, believing in His Word and doing exactly as He says. When you do this then you will be declaring His lovingkindness in the morning and His faithfulness by night. Not only will you see His love for you a thousand different ways but you will be amazed and astonished and will give thanks to Him and sing praises to His name.

Psalm 92:1,2 It is good to give thanks to the Lord
And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning
And Your faithfulness by night,

 

 

 

A Life of Thanking Others

Too much can not be said about being grateful to the Lord.

Psalm 118:21 I shall give thanks to You, for You have answered me,
And You have become my salvation.

Have you thanked the Lord for what He has done in your life?

Psalm 30:12 That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

No one makes it on their own. There are always other people that the Lord has used who helped you get where you are today. The Lord is for you through those who help you.

Psalm 118:7a The Lord is for me among those who help me;

Have you recently or ever thanked the Lord for the people who have helped you in your relationship with the Lord and who have helped you in life?

I Thessalonians 1:2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers;

A lack of thanksgiving in one’s life is a lack of God in that person’s life. Ungratefulness is a sign of ungodliness.

Romans 1:21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks,

Give thanks to the Lord for what He has done and give thanks to the Lord for the people that He has brought into you life and who have helped you. Thanksgiving is a great encouragement to those who have loved you and pointed you to the Lord.

Hebrews 13:7a Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you;

Remember those who have diligently labored among you and show appreciation to them. When you show appreciation to someone then it is a confirmation to them that what they did met a need in your life or made a difference. People don’t know if what they do makes any difference at all unless they are told.

I Thessalonians 5:12 But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction,

Has the Lord helped you through anyone else? Take the time and effort to thank them. Thanksgiving is a gift that you can give to the one who receives the appreciation. We are not to do anything for the gift of being thanked but when it is received then it is a great encouragement to continue helping others.

 

 

A Life with An Attitude of Gratitude

If there ever were a gauge of happiness in a person it would be having an attitude of gratitude. If there is one characteristic that you should develop in your life, it should be a grateful heart. You will find that you will be drawn more to the Lord and people will be drawn to you. The Lord is the One who is ultimately is responsible for everything in our lives.

Psalm 103:19 The Lord has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.

He made us just the way we are and we are fearfully and wonderfully made, even with our flaws and quirks. He wants us to give thanks to Him for how we are made.

Psalm 139:13,14 For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.

He knows the number of days that you will live on earth. He knew you before you were born and He knows when He will take you home. You need to thank Him for the days that He has ordained for you.

Psalm 139:16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.

He directs your steps. This is one reason why He wants you to trust Him. He has a plan for your life and He wants to be your Shepherd. Are you not married and you want to be? By faith, thank Him that He has a plan for your life and tell Him that you want to trust Him.

Proverbs 16:9 The mind of man plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.

Has He saved you? Has He given you the greatest gift ever known to man, the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior? He wants you to thank Him.

II Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

Has He forgiven you and continues to forgive you for your many mistakes and sins? Yes He has and there is no end to His love for you. You can not exhaust His love or wear Him out. Thank Him for His eternal love for you and that He never becomes weary of any of us.

Isaiah 40:28 Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth
Does not become weary or tired.
His understanding is inscrutable.

He understands you and He loves you. He cares for you and never becomes weary of you. He delights in you and has an unchanging love for you.

Micah 7:18 Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity
And passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession?
He does not retain His anger forever,
Because He delights in unchanging love.

He longs to love you and waits on high to be gracious to you.

Isaiah 30:18 Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you,
And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
How blessed are all those who long for Him.

Thank Him today for what He has done. Thank Him for His indescribable gift. Thank Him for His unchanging love for you. Enter into His presence through your thanksgiving and you will find that your heart will overflow with love towards Him.

Psalm 100:4,5 Enter His gates with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting
And His faithfulness to all generations.

Each morning give thanks to Him for His lovingkindness towards you and you will see that He loves you each day in a thousand different ways as you see His faithfulness.

Psalm 92:1,2 It is good to give thanks to the Lord
And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning
And Your faithfulness by night,

 

A Life of Generosity and Joy

Generosity and joy go hand and hand. The Lord Himself said that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Giving gets your eyes off of yourself and your interests and needs and causes you to become aware of the needs of others around you. The ore yo give, the more your cup of joy will overflow.

Acts20:35 In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Giving gives you a heart for the Lord, for where your treasure is there will your heat be also. Your heart will follow your treasure. Time and money are two of your treasures that you can give away.

Matthew 6:21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The generous person will be prosperous or successful.

Proverbs 11:25 The generous man will be prosperous,

Give to those who can not pay you back. The Lord says that even sinners give to those from whom they will receive something back. When you give to the needy of His people you are giving to the Lord.

Matthew 25:35-40  For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’

The person who gives to the rich will come to poverty. Give to a person in need and they will give you their heart.  When you meet the need of the needy then you are removing the obstacle in their life so that they can hear the Gospel. You are allowing them to see the love and truth of God so that they can hear the love and truth of the Lord.

Proverbs 22:16 He who oppresses the poor to make more for himself Or who gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

Give to the poor and the Lord says that He Himself will pay you back. It is the only time in Scripture where the Lord says that He will become man’s debtor. His payment is in full and more. He remains no man’s debtor.

Proverbs 19:17 One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord,  And He will repay him for his good deed.

Give to those who have helped you spiritually.

Galatians 6:6 The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.

Your cup of joy will overflow as you give to the Lord by giving to His people, the needy and to reach others for Christ.

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”