"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us." Ephesians 3:20

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." 2 Cor. 3:17 THANKFULNESS Driving the Dismas House van one day, I picked up two men that had a long day of dish washing. As we were driving back to the house, we started talking about how hard their life situation was. They did not appreciate Dismas House's help, and thought that everything they received was due them. After this conversation I thought how important thanksgiving is for successful living. Unthankfulness will hinder the productivity of your work. If you are thankful your whole attitude is changed. Unthankfulness will cause you to be discouraged, tire you out and make the job harder. Christians are people of praise. They have hope in Christ and the job that they are doing they do for Christ. (Col. 3:23) But many times we get off the track of spirituality. The pressing needs of day to day life cause us to lose tract of our spiritual purpose. How do we regain our heartfelt attitude of thankfulness and praise? The first step is to ask for the Holy Spirit to move in our lives. Romans 15:13 is a good verse to pray. If we allow the power of the Holy Spirit to flow through us then we are functioning in the kingdom of God. (Col. 1:13) The kingdom of God is not understanding the principles of the Bible, it is living according to the power of the Holy Spirit. "For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power." (1 Cor. 4:20) Psalm 16:7 I will bless the LORD who has counseled me; Complaining comes from a lack of faith that God will work in our situation. It is the very thing that will hinder God from working in our lives. The Israelites in the Old testament had the gospel preached to them but it did not affect their lives because it was not united with faith. (Heb. 4:2) If we unite the Words of Christ that are spoken to our hearts with faith, they will change our life. But how do we allow the words of Christ to change our life? Abraham had an impossible situation. God promised him a son and his wife was long past the child bearing age. But Abraham did not give up on God. "yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief, but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what He had promised, He was able also to perform." (Rom. 4:20,21) He did not consider that God would lie or forget His promises. Instead he gave glory to God. Thankfulness and praise allow you to receive from God. Thankfulness and praise opens up the pathway to God and allows Him to work in the situation. Thankfulness and praise allows us to remember what God has done for us in the past and what He is able to do for us in our present situation. Sow gladness and thankfulness even when you don't feel like it, so that in the future, like real seed, it will come to you as a crop. "Light is sown like seed for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. Be glad in the Lord you righteous ones; and give thanks to His holy name." (Psalm 97:11,12) Love for God believes all things hopes all things. (1 Cor. 13:7) If we love God we will believe what He is saying. We can't work up faith, it comes from love within our hearts. "... faith works through love." (Gal. 5:6) As we love God we are naturally moved to praise Him in song and this is part of our deliverance. (Ps. 32:7) Am I any different then the men I picked up the other day? No, but I do have something that they don't have and that is the power of the Holy Spirit residing within me. If I will allow myself to awake spiritually the light of Christ will shine within me. (Eph. 5:14) As I walk in the love of Christ I will be able to flow with the Spirit of God instead of reacting like a normal person that responds according to his fleshly desires. Put on Christ and make no provision for the flesh in regards to its lusts. (Rom. 13:14) A practical way of breaking the downward spiral of the flesh is to apply 1 Peter 1:22 to your life. Pray over the Scriptures and renew your heart before God in repentance. God's word is legalism to the one whose heart is cold. But His word is precious and life to those who are in touch with God. "There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy dwelling places of the Most High." (Psalm 46:4) Jesus said that if any man thirst let him come unto me and drink. He who believes in Me out of his inner most being shall flow rivers of living water. (Jn. 7:38-39) The Holy Spirit is the the river that brings gladness. We can be full of the Holy Spirit, if we come to Jesus and believe and trust His words giving glory to God. Gladness will flow out from us to others and we can express joy instead of complaining. - - -Scott McCrae Home | Back to Top

This website is hosted for free by . Get your own Free Website now!