Giving Thanks In All Things

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday, September 18
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Giving Thanks In All Situations

"Whatever happens, always be thankful. This is how God wants you to live in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ERV

David's child was very sick. He prayed to God for the baby. He refused to eat or drink. He stayed indoors, laying on the ground all night. The leaders of his family tried to pull him up from the ground, but he refused to get up. He refused to eat with them. On the seventh day the baby died. His servants were afraid to tell him that the baby was dead. They said, “Look, we tried to talk to him while the baby was alive, but he refused to listen to us. If we tell him that the baby is dead, he might do something bad to himself.” But the Bible tells us that when David eventually knew about the death of his child, he got up from the floor, washed himself, changed his clothes and got dressed. Then he went into the Lord’s house to worship!

Job lost everything: his donkeys, his sheep, his servants, his camels, and all his sons and daughters! One would have expected Job to be very angry; yes He was sad, who wouldn't be; but the Bible says that Job fell to the ground and bowed down before God and said, “When I was born into this world, I was naked and had nothing. When I die and leave this world, I will be naked and have nothing. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Praise the name of the Lord!” Job did not sin. He did not accuse God of doing anything wrong.

What could be worse than these? How is your loss or the delay in getting what you've been asking God for affecting your attitude and your faith in God? Instead of becoming bitter, instead of complaining, instead of transferring aggressions to people you love, try being grateful! Guess what: David got another child, and all that Job lost, he got twice as much! That's what can happen when you choose to be thankful. Give thanks!

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