In everything give thanks by Aije Barnes, August 3 Issue 2 Vol 4

This is part 3 of Knowing God's Will 

 

Let us refresh our minds on the key verse on this topic:

 

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (‭I Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭16-18‬ NKJV). 

 

Giving God thanks in everything is a command and again, one which is not always easy to do particularly when things are not going the way we want it to.  It is so easy to thank God when things we like or want happen to us but it takes the act of faith, obedience and humility to thank give thanks to God when things are not going our way. That said, some of us forget to give thanks to God when thinks go well with us. This is a tragic act that cost a rich man in the bible to loose his life in a parable Jesus gave.  This is what he said: 

 

' And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. (‭Luke‬ ‭12‬:‭16-21‬ KJV)'.

 

Did the scripture above say the rich man gave God thanks for His provision? No! Not once? All he was interested in was storing treasure up for himself and be happy to his heart's content. He did not even consider other people. It was all me me me!! Or as others may put it, me myself and I!!!

 

Let's focus on the more difficult part of thanking God - when things are not going our way. Starting from this point, remember Jesus taught us to pray in the Lord's Prayer 'thy will be done'. Therefore we should not expect our will but rather God's will to be done.  But some may ask what is the point praying for what you want if that is the case? This is because if you don't ask, you don't get. The scripture says:

 

'..... You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. (‭James‬ ‭4‬:‭2-3‬ NIV)'

 

God wants us to ask him for what we want so that He can meet your needs according to His will. Jesus said:

'Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. (‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭24‬ NIV)'.

 

If you ask, you are giving God an opportunity to answer your prayers according to His will. 

 

It is God's will for your joy to be complete. The following verse gives you insight into what God thinks of you:

 

'For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭11‬ KJV)'.

 

And again:

 

'And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬ KJV)'.

 

As you can see, we have every reason to give God thanks in all things. By doing this, it shows that we trust God, humble ourselves in obedience to his command and it builds our faith. 

 

Shalom!