Paul explains that he "learned" to be content. Paul chose his attitude – trained his mind and heart to select his life perspective. "Learned" means "to be educated by experience." Paul is saying that all of his life experiences – good and bad – had become his tutor in gratitude. Paul learned to be "content," a word that means "contained." In other words, Paul trained himself to focus on inner resources – those resources God deposited in his heart and soul – rather than outward circumstances. He chose to be grateful, to give God praise no matter what his outer circumstances might be.
"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."1 Thessalonians 5:18 (niv)
Paul knew that he could trust God. Paul counted on Him to come through because God had always come through for Paul. I think it's interesting when one author wrote in one of the books I have read, "You see, there's a money-back guarantee on every promise of God!" Behind every promise of God is the perfect and flawless integrity of God.
"I will give thanks to your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness, because your promises are backed by all the honor of your name." (Psalm 138: 2, NCV)
Our Father allows us to go through trials, giving us the opportunity to rest on His promises while choosing the attitude of gratitude in the midst of those trials! When we choose gratitude, we are choosing joy! When our heart is fixed on gratitude we are choosing praise, enthroning God in the midst of the circumstance. Our praise prepares a place for Him to dwell and reside. No matter how deep the valley – no matter how painful the wound – no matter how difficult the road – our choice to praise Him is an invitation for Him to come. And when He comes, everything changes.
"But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel." (Psalm 22:3, NLT)
It is easy to choose gratitude when the seas are calm, the skies are clear and the boat is full of fish! But the real test of gratitude accompanies the greatest storms of life, that's why Jesus took His followers out to sea to test them! Gratitude realizes that God is sovereign and rests in the knowledge that His ways are not our ways. It is not necessary for us to understand His process in order to trust His heart. Gratitude is a learned choice made by the heart that seeks God. When gratitude becomes our heart habit we will naturally trust Him more and live with a sense of anticipation, knowing that He is constantly at work in and around us.
When we choose to fill our hearts with gratitude, it makes life sweet! Make gratitude a habit!
1 comment:
Hi Mark,
I believe that is one of your excellent comments about gratitude.
We, Christians, need to be reminded of that daily.
Thanks so much for your joyful words and your encouragement! Your inner man seems to be more peaceful and calm when you write your blogs.
If our mind negates, our life follows. One of my favorite verses is Romans 12:2 as follows: "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transormed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (KJV)
I love one of the verses in the Bible. "It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night." (Psalm 92:1-2(NIV). We find reasons to give God thanks no matter what comes againist us. The more we are being grateful, the more God will do in our life.
We also need to remind ourselves that we don't take our everyday life for granted. We sometimes get bored with our same routine; but we do not need to let our mind influence our emotions. Let us not complain about the mundane. LET US ENJOY WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW OR WHAT WE HAVE LEFT IN OUR LIFE!
One author stated in his book which helped me to remember what one of my professors at the universary said. too. He said no one ever says on their deadbed, "If I had to do it again, I'd spend more time at the office." They often wished they could spend more time with their family or they would slow down to smell the roses.
Again, the author mentioned that he often talked to people who recovered from their life-threating illness and discovered that all of them said that they now appreciate their each and new day and every sunrise is a gift from God. I remembered one professor at the universary that I attended, challenged us to think what we would do if we are being told by the doctor that we had one hour to live. That is exactly what this author said in the book.
We thank God everyday for our every-day life with our gratitude heart and thank God for what he has already given to us. We thank God for the loved ones that he gave us and the situations that we have encountered or are facing now, that have helped to stretch our faith or thank God that he is stretching us to grow like Him. No one else can do that for us EXCEPT GOD.
LET US appreciate our life that God give us and let us be cheerful regardless of situations or circumstances. LET US HAVE AN ALIGNMENT of OUR PRIORITIES WITH GOD. Please don't get me wrong that it sounds like it has been easy for me to do. No, it has been very challenging for me!
ENJOY YOUR SIMPLE LIFE,
Your Prayerful friend
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