The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"A Moment Away"
As I write these words,Thanksgiving as an annual observance in the United States is 6 days away.
As I write these words, thanksgiving as an expression of gratitude to God is but a moment away.
"Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (I Thessalonians 5:17-18).
The Apostle Paul immediately follows his mandate regarding a life lived in prayer by calling us to the giving of thanks as the first expression of communion with God. This does not discount or minimize other aspects of prayer such as praise, affirmation, request, intercession, and confession of sin. However, a truly thankful heart will likely express itself in a full panorama of prayer as gratitude creates an atmosphere of faith that results in a comprehensive fellowship with our Heavenly Father.
"In every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God" (Philippians 4:6).
Certainly, this involves giving thanks for the innumerable blessings of life. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights" (James 1:17). The longer we walk with God, the more we all feel a great deficit in expressing gratitude to Him. How undeservedly generous He has been to all of us in ways we know, and in ways we cannot perceive because of the sheer preponderance of His grace.
"Heavenly Father, for those gifts You have given, but for which we did not give thanks, we do so now. As the old hymn declares, 'Out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth and giveth and giveth again.' We realize this, and we also know that we have too often failed to express our gratitude. For those opportunities missed in moments at hand, we are sorry and we give thanks in this moment."
It is also true that we may not have given thanks "in everything" regarding the challenges, pains, and difficulties of life. The Lord meets us there as our "very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1). From minor irritations, to difficult dilemmas, to heartache and heartbreak, God works in all things to fulfill His loving purpose in our hearts and lives (Romans 8:28). "All things." Indeed, our Father does not have to directly determine everything that occurs in our lives in order to coordinate all for His glory and our benefit (James 1:13). He is rather so present, so active, so involved, so wise, so powerful, and so overcoming of devilish and carnal devices that the deepest darkness can become the filament for the brightest glow of light in the Lord Jesus (see the cross of Calvary for confirmation). It can also become a sacred opportunity to honor our Savior as "in everything" as we give thanks.
"Father, we thank You that no challenge has arrived on our doorstep that did not makes its way to us by the path of Your determining or allowing providence. We thank You that You are more than able and more than willing to weave "all things" into the blessed "good" of Romans 8:28-29, the promised assurance of conforming us to the image of the Lord Jesus. We therefore choose to give thanks for those matters that seem unlikely prompts to gratitude, but which may one day be realized to have been the scene of Your greatest bestowals of grace."
Gratitude in the heart and thanksgiving upon the lips cannot be overemphasized or overstated in its honoring of our Lord, its holy effect in our hearts, and its blessing of our spheres of influence. Yes, Thanksgiving is six days away. But no, thanksgiving is ever and forever but a moment away…
"I will give thanks unto Thee forever."
(Psalm 30:12)
Weekly Memory Verse
Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.
(Proverbs 16:3)
7642
Weekly Memory Verse
Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.
(Proverbs 16:3)
7640
