Do you read messages on church signs? I do. I am always fascinated by what they say.
This morning I read one that I really want to remember. It said, “If you need God’s help, ask Him. If you don’t thank Him.”
This time of year, we are more conscious than usual about being thankful. With the rush to get past Thanksgiving and on to Christmas, we need to be careful not to forget to be thankful.
Psalm 100 is one of the most famous of the Psalms. It is an exhortation to praise God for His greatness and His power. In verse 4 it says, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”
I teach 4th and 5th graders in my Bible class. The boys always lead our prayers at the end of our class each week. Before they pray, we talk about the things for which they will pray. Rarely, if ever, do they just thank God. They normally ask for those that are sick, families that have lost loved ones, and even for a sick puppy. I think they pray this way partly because that is what they hear in worship and at home. They imitate the prayers they hear. Most of the time they will thank God for sending His son to die for us. What a wonderful thing for which to be thankful!
Thankfulness carries with it the attribute of praise. Thanksgiving should come from a grateful heart, one that recognizes the gifts of God as well as His mercy toward us.
II Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you”. Giving thanks is a command, but how do we give thanks?
First, we can actually thank God by singing. Ephesians 5:19-20 says, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”. Our singing should come from our hearts, and we should give thanks to God in our singing.
Second, Colossians 3:17 says, “Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.” The context of this verse is in reference to our duty to God. We should fulfill our duties in the name of Christ, but we need to do it with thankfulness. Whatever we do, we will do it better if we have an attitude of gratitude.
Thirdly, even when we ask for things from God, it should be done with thanksgiving. Philippians 4:6 says, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” We know that God will answer our prayers. He may say, “yes”, “no” or “wait”; but we know that His answers will always be what is best for our lives (Romans 8:28).
So, if you don’t have a special need today, pray and thank God for your blessings.
Sandra Oliver
Thank God for using you for this encouraging devotion. I look forward to the next. God Bless You and everyone that reads it.
We can all remember how many times the Lord was angry with the Israelites for murmuring instead of asking for what they needed. They became embittered and not only complained against God, but against Moses too.
Even today, people gripe and complain against the elders, the preacher, other members and against God too, but they forget (just like the Israelites) that God wants us to ask for what we need and what he has promised.
Even in the Lord’s Prayer, we are taught to ask for our daily bread. Why would that be if he has promised us food and clothing as long as we are faithful? Maybe it is to teach us to depend on him and to remember his promises too.
“From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not:ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain:ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts” (James 4:1).