Fight for Gratefulness
Cynicism can feel like the easy way out when we're presented with an idea or a situation we don't agree with. The more cynical we become, the more we judge others for their actions. And, if we’re not careful, we can grow arrogant and bitter.
The antidote to this way of thinking is not to be right about everything. Rather, the way to heal from a cynical heart is through gratitude and thanksgiving.
When you are grateful, you take the focus off yourself and put it on God. When you give thanks for something, you no longer judge something for what it isn’t; you appreciate what it is.
In this passage, Paul encouraged all believers in the church of Thessalonica to be continually grateful for who God is and what He has done. He told them always to be joyful. How is that possible? For Paul, because of God’s amazing grace, there’s always something to be joyful about.
As we are more grateful and joyful, we will be more closely connected to the heart and will of God. We will connect with God more deeply, and continual prayer will be possible. When we’re too focused on ourselves, we have no capacity to be in communion with God.
So, fight for gratefulness today. Press into God, even if you're struggling. Let others know that you're counting on Him to show up!
“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: as thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for ...
“Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see. Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD's servant? Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not. The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore. Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come? Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law. Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, ...