Weak-kneed about standing strong for God?

Question: How do I stand strong for God in a hostile environment?

Answer: It’s not always easy to stand strong for God when those around you are hostile towards His teachings. Therefore, you must always remember to share God’s teachings respectfully, in ways that reflect God’s love. Make sure you don’t come across as hostile yourself by being mean, uncaring, or hypocritical. Instead, let your interactions with others reflect kindness, joy, and peace. (Read about these and other “fruit of the Spirit” in Galatians 5:22-23)

Still, even when you try to be loving when sharing your beliefs, there may be people who will accuse you of acting like you think you’re better than everyone else. Others may say you’re being too judgmental. They may even try to prove you’re wrong by quoting the verse, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” (Matthew 7:1 NKJV)

However, they fail to give the rest of that passage. For Jesus goes on to warn first against being a hypocrite — someone who points out the sins of others without acknowledging and repenting of their own sins. Using symbolism for sin, He asks,” And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?” Then, He goes on to say, “First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye.” (Read Matthew 7:1-5) Jesus does want us to speak His truth to others about the consequences of sin and help them understand God’s Word.

Unfortunately, many people just don’t want to accept that it’s God — not man — who determines what is good and what is evil. Therefore, they may attack you verbally or even physically try to keep you from speaking God’s Truth. You may be ridiculed, not invited to parties, denied job promotions, be fired, or even sued for practicing your unpopular beliefs. This is all because you choose to stand strong for your Christian faith.

Even some Believers may get combative or turn against you for calling out sin in today’s culture. They may react this way for many reasons. But one reason might be that your boldness for the Lord makes them embarrassed and ashamed. Deep down, they know they have been failing to stand strong for their faith like God wants them to do.

In fact, Jesus said, “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32-33)

In order to deal successfully with any of these situations, you must start with prayer! Our loving Heavenly Father hears our prayers and is with us to help us through our daily trials. His Word tells us to, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8) God always wants us to turn to Him — including when we face attacks.

The Apostle Paul teaches us that these fights we face are actually spiritual battles. They are conflicts between those who support what God calls evil and those of us who support the goodness and righteousness of God and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Paul reminds Believers to “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” (Ephesians 6:10)

When we face challenges because of our faith, we, like Paul, should pray for God’s Holy Spirit to help us. Paul urged the Believers of his day to be praying for other Believers and for him, “……that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel… that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” (Read more about putting on “The Whole Armor of God in Ephesians 6:11-20)

So, don’t be weak-kneed. Boldly share your beliefs with grace, kindness, respect, and love. In doing so, you’ll be helping to fulfill The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) given by Jesus, to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

****Enjoy this beautiful song of encouragement by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir entitled, “Take Up Your Cross.” (Click on this link: https://youtu.be/77RHISYAD_E)

Stop just shaking your head about things. Take action!

Jul1

Question: I just shake my head in disbelief about our country’s moral decline. What can I do? I feel helpless!

Answer: It’s understandable to feel frustrated about the onslaught of daily bad news. So many people seem to be on the fast-track to see how low they can go when it comes to doing things that go against God’s Word. Still murder, hatred, theft, etc. — none of these sins are new. (Read Romans 1:18-32 )

But these days, thanks to our access to 24/7 news, we can witness our elected officials, celebrities, and media and academic elites shamelessly supporting sinful things on a regular basis. This can be very disturbing to watch! But instead of just shaking your head about the negative direction our society is headed, take action!

First, pray! Remember, we need to show the love of God to everyone – including those who are leading our society away from God. Since doing this does not always come easy, we need to pray about them regularly. Pray that the Lord will give us wisdom in how and when we are to deal with those who work against His Word. Pray that He gives us the right words to say when speaking with those who do not share our beliefs.

Also, realize that one person really can make a big difference! Ask God to give you wisdom to know how you can help people live their lives to please Him. Many people believe God would have them give financially to support organizations, in addition to their churches, to help them spread the Gospel to others.

You could join others in educating people about the negative results of not living according to God’s Word. This type of action might take the form of holding public forums, rallies, and marches to get people’s attention so that you can teach them about current issues.

When it’s time to elect new officers into leadership locally, state-wide, and nationally, take action! For example, you could distribute voter guides to let people know where the politicians they vote into power stand on the important cultural issues of today. That way, people will not make the mistake of voting for leaders who plan to support policies and laws which go against the Word of God!

When all is said and done, Believers need to know that ultimately it’s not about how clever we are with our words. But rather it’s about God’s Holy Spirit moving on people’s hearts that will get them to change their immoral ways. So, as 2 Thessalonians 3:13 says, “…do not grow weary in doing good.” ( NKJV ) Continue to pray for people to live their lives to please God. Pray that they accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, ask God for forgiveness, and repent of their sins.

Remember “… with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) So stop just shaking your head about the declining moral condition of the culture. Take action!

(Re-posted from my Feb. 8, 2019 Blog Post)

Believers beware…the battle is on!

Jun3

Question: Why do some Christians say we’re in a spiritual war?

Answer: Just being Believers makes us target number one for Satan. The Bible tells us to “be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8, NKJV) Jesus also says in John 10:10 that “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy…” Therefore, Christians must be on guard against the devil achieving his goals of causing trouble and trying to destroy our lives. In other words, Believers need to recognize when we are facing spiritual warfare.

There are many different circumstances Christians find themselves in that are actually experiences of spiritual warfare. For example, when you’re facing challenges like marital troubles, unemployment, financial difficulties, medical problems — physical or emotional — and you start to feel like things are never going to get better or that you’re just a failure in life, you’re in a spiritual battle.

Or, when your children, who were raised in the Church but then later rebel against the biblical morals they were taught to live by, you know you’re in a spiritual battle. Another example is when your boss or co-workers show open resentment of you for being morally different from them. They may even deny you promotions because you believe in living out your Christian beliefs. They make fun of you because you don’t laugh at their dirty jokes or join them in their after-work partying where they are known for getting drunk and doing other sinful things. You know you’re in a spiritual battle.

God’s Word tells us to handle these times of spiritual warfare by turning to Him through Bible study and prayer to receive God’s guidance and help. Said another way, the Word tells us to put our armor on! Ephesians 6:11-18 says:

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” (NIV)

Nationally known pastor and author Dr. Tony Evans created a compelling and helpful Bible study on how Christians should deal with spiritual battles. The title of the study is “Victory in Spiritual Warfare.” Check out the 1 minute, 26 second trailer about this study here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n6m9DLHJ_Y.

So, Believers beware; the battle is on! Thankfully, we can trust that God has provided the way to victory over Satan in these battles. That way to victory starts when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, ask Jesus to forgive our sins and repent, then receive the power of God’s Holy Spirit into our lives. It is God’s power that will give us the victory over spiritual battles!

Re-posted from my February 25, 2014 Blog post.

Helpful Links:

Focus on the Family http://www.focusonthefamily.com

Crown Financial Ministries http://www.crown.org

The Christian Broadcasting Network http://www.cbn.com

World Magazine www.worldmag.com

Repenting when it’s hard!

May7

Question: As a Believer, why do I still struggle to repent of certain sins?

Answer: Believers must recognize that as they struggle to repent, they are actually fighting a spiritual battle against Satan. Know that Satan does not want you to repent of your sins. Instead, he wants to keep you in bondage to him. But, Praise God! Our Heavenly Father is far more powerful than Satan will ever be. You must fight back by praying to God for His Holy Spirit to give you all the strength and guidance you need to repent of your sins!

Remember to stay strong by regularly reading God’s Word, The Holy Bible. It helps to remind yourself what God has to say about the need to repent of our sins: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9 NKJV)

Jesus told of the need to repent. For example, in Revelation 3:19, Jesus told the Laodiceans, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.” Similarly, in Acts 17:30-31 the Apostle Paul says, “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man (Jesus) whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

Of course, in addition to reading God’s Word about repentance, you must also truly desire in your heart to want to turn from your sinful ways. You must want to stop desiring your old sinful lifestyle. This change is well described in Colossians chapter 3. Here the Apostle Paul reminds us that we need to “put off the old man,” participating in evil desires such as fornication, wrath, blasphemy, filthy language, and other sinful behavior.

He goes on to say that we must “put on the new man,” showing such things as kindness, humility, and forgiving one another. We must “put on love” (v. 14). “And let the peace of God rule in your heart…and be thankful.” (v. 15)

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual sons, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (v. 16)

While we are never going to be perfect in this life, God’s word tells us how we can continue to grow in our Christian walk. The Scriptures tell us that in order to resist sin we should: have a sincere heart to want to change to please God, read His Word regularly, pray for help from the Holy Spirit, and stay away from those things that we know will tempt us.

God loves us and hears our prayers. He is faithful to provide us with the help we need to live to please Him. Stay strong in the Lord!

How many ways to Heaven? Jesus says, just one!

Apr4

Question: Are there many different ways to Heaven?

Answer: No. Jesus says there is just one way to Heaven and that’s through Him! In John 14:6, it reads, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’ ” (NKJV) Believers know that Jesus does not lie. Therefore, we can be assured that the only way to Heaven is through Jesus, as our Lord and Savior! Jesus does not say that there is any other way. In fact, many other scriptures in the Holy Bible confirm this. For example, in Acts 4:12, the Apostle Peter says of Jesus, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” John the Baptist says in John 3:36, “He who believes in the Son (Jesus) has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

Also, in 1 John 5:10-13, the Bible gives another summary on the only way to God in Heaven. It says, “He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony; that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”

These scriptures are the words of God. Believers know that they are true. Sadly, even some Christians will try to deny God’s Word. They do not want to admit to others that not every person will go to Heaven even if they are doing so-called “good deeds” or saying they believe in some type of “god.” This “One way to God” teaching sounds mean, divisive, and unfair to them. What these people forget is that God is a loving God. Remember that John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son , that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” God’s offer of salvation is given to all people groups.

God wants us to realize that we are all sinners in need of a Savior. He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross to take the punishment for our sins — although Jesus remained sinless. He wants us to ask His forgiveness for our sins and repent. He wants us to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and be saved. However, He has also given us free-will. It’s up to each able-minded individual to decide to accept or reject Jesus as his or her Lord and Savior. Those who harden their own hearts and refuse to accept Jesus as their Savior have condemned themselves to eternal separation from a holy God. In other words, they choose Hell over Heaven! Still, they are making this choice for themselves.

Renowned Pastor Greg Laurie does a beautiful job of explaining that the only way to Heaven is through Jesus. Listen to this 3 minute 13 second video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch0Qcd-wufY&feature=youtu.be

Believers must continue to pray for all those who reject Jesus Christ and the teachings of God’s Holy Word, and who believe that there are multiple ways to Heaven. Pray that they realize that God’s words are true. Pray that they accept that when Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father except through Me,” He meant it! He IS the one and only way!

(Reposted from my January 24,2014 Blog)

Will the real Christian please stand up?

Mar4

Question: Why is it that so many people call themselves Christians, yet they take opposite stands on many of today’s social issues?

Answer: Many of these people are Christians in name only. If you question them about their beliefs, you’ll find that they don’t actually believe God’s Holy Word. They simply pick and choose the parts of the Bible they like and dismiss the rest. They believe that Jesus was a good religious leader. However, they don’t understand that they need to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. They may not want to live their lives the way God commands us to live in order to please Him.

Therefore, when it comes to taking a stand on today’s social issues, true Bible believing Christians will desire to follow God’s Word. In John 14:15, Jesus says, “If you love Me, keep my commandments.” ( NKJV) Believers will agree that if God calls a behavior sin, it is sin. Period. No matter how many laws are passed or how many people vote for it, if God says it’s wrong, then it is wrong. Each one of us will stand before God one day and answer for our sins. If we haven’t accepted Jesus as the only One who died on the Cross to take the punishment we deserve for our sins, we will not go to Heaven. (Read John 3:16).

If you are calling yourself a Christian, you need to start reading the Bible to find out if you are living as God wants you to live. Feeding the poor, helping needy children, and doing other good works are wonderful things. But they do not make you a Christian. Jesus says in Matthew 7:22-23, “Many will say to me in that day ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”

Romans 1:18-32 details why we all should feel guilty when we disobey God and embrace sin. It also tells us of the destructive results that come from embracing sin. So if you see someone who is calling themselves a Christian while also being unrepentant in approving of things that God calls sin, take notice. You should pray for the discernment of God’s Holy Spirit to know if they are really Believers. In Matthew 7:20, Jesus says, “Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”

So make sure you’re not a Christian in name only. As the common saying goes: if you were on trial accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict? Be sure, by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Understand that Jesus took the punishment we all deserve when He was put to death on the cross. Ask Him to forgive you of your sins. Praise God that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day and lives with our Father God in Heaven! Commit to living your life to please Him while we’re on this earth. And, rejoice in knowing that as true Christians, we’ll be able to join Jesus in Heaven one day!

Follow me on Twitter: @valclarksplace

Re-posted from my Oct. 29, 2015 Blog

Forgiving when it’s hard!

Feb4

Question: How do you forgive someone close to you who really hurt your feelings?

Answer: Forgiving someone can be very difficult to do. The hurt you feel is real and hard to get over. Sometimes this hurt can cause you to be physically ill or mentally depressed. You may even wonder why, if God truly loves you, He allowed this hurtful betrayal to happen.

Rest assured! God does truly love you, and He does not want you to be hurt. He also knows that you are in a world full of sinful people. Because of this sin nature people may sometimes do things that hurt others — even others they claim to love.

God tells us in His word how we should prepare for and deal with those who hurt us. God reminds us that we ourselves are sinners who need Him to forgive us of our own sins. In His teachings about prayer, Jesus Christ said to pray “…And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12 NKJV). Jesus goes on to say, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14 – 15)

Believers should know that “In Him (Jesus) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” (Ephesians 1:7)

However, when you forgive someone that doesn’t mean you allow them to continue to hurt you. You may need to put some distance between you and that person if they continue to mistreat you. And, if this person is putting you in an abusive or dangerous situation, you need to get away from them as soon as possible and seek help for your protection.

Also, know that those who mistreat you will not escape God’s wrath if they don’t repent of their sins. In Romans 12:19-20, the Apostle Paul reminds us of God’s promise to us concerning these matters:

“Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. Therefore, ‘If your enemy hungers, feed him; If he thirsts, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.'”

So, yes, forgiving others can be hard. You need to pray for God’s Holy Spirit to help you do it. Remember: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21) Amen!

Are you hiding from God’s Word?

Jan8

Question: As a Christian, does it really matter if I don’t read the Bible much?

Answer: Yes, it actually does matter. God has blessed us with His word! He wants us to know what He has to say to us. Knowing His word gives Believers the firm foundation we need to live our lives to please God.

Jesus said, “…whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24-25 NKJV)

The Apostle Paul prepares Timothy for the ministry by telling him “that from childhood you (Timothy) have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:15)

Paul goes on to say, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Therefore, knowing how important God’s Holy word is to our lives, you would think Christians would be seeking to read, listen to, and study God’s actual words to us much more instead of many making excuses not to. They actually end up “hiding” from God’s Word. The reasons why they don’t read the Bible regularly vary.

For example, some people say they don’t have the extra time in their busy schedules to read the Bible. But many of these same people find time to watch television, check their social media, engage in their favorite hobbies, and hold lengthy conversations on their phones. If they really wanted to do it, they could easily give about 15 minutes to reading a chapter in the Bible.

Others say they just don’t understand the Scriptures when they read them. This group needs to know that Bible translations like the New King James Version (NKJV) or the English Standard Version (ESV) along with various Study Bibles can help their readers understand the Scriptures. Of course, if you have reading ability problems, you can get recordings of others reading the Scriptures word for word for you. And remember to pray for the Lord to give you understanding as you read His Holy word! Our God is faithful, so He will help those who sincerely seek His help!

Still, there are other people who don’t really want to know God’s Word. They know God condemns sin, and these people don’t want to face the truth of their unrighteous living. They don’t want to feel convicted by God’s words.

We read about this in 2 Timothy 4:3-4. The Apostle Paul warns Timothy that “…the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables.”

However, instead of hiding from God’s word, these people need to know that the Scriptures also tell us that if they will accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, repent and ask Him to forgive their sins, He will do so. (John 3:16; Acts 3:19)

Of course, just knowing Scripture isn’t enough. Even Satan can quote Scripture. Remember how he did just that when he tried unsuccessfully to tempt Jesus (Read Matthew 4: 5-7.) Once we know what God says, we are to act accordingly. “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only…” (James 1:22)

So, stop hiding from God’s word! Start reading it today. It will change your life — if you let it!

Don’t have a Jesus-free Christmas!

Dec3

Question: In the hustle and bustle of the season, how can I make sure I’m keeping Christ in Christmas?

Answer: Even dedicated Christians can sometimes find themselves consumed with every tradition of the holiday season except what’s most important. They can forget that Jesus really is the reason for the season! Christians know that this is the time of the year we choose to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Therefore, we should make the time and make the effort to keep Christ in our Christmas! But, if we know this, then why don’t we do it?

Unfortunately, some Christians can get as consumed with creating the picture-perfect Christmas experience as the world does. They fill themselves with anxiety trying to get the best super sales on the most popular gifts. Adults get worked up over seeing their peers gifting themselves with the latest “must-have” gadgets and new technology. They wear themselves out trying to keep up with the trends of the crowd. They forget to pause, reflect, and be thankful for the greatest gift – Jesus Christ.

Likewise, many Christian families find themselves in turmoil during this season. Married couples fight over which in-laws they are going to spend Christmas Day with. Parents argue over how much money they are going to spend to make sure their children have this year’s hottest toys. They fill the family calendar with so many seasonal activities that they find themselves exhausted. Yet, they fail to make time for the most important things – reading, meditating on, and discussing God’s Word.

Most importantly, during this season of spending extra time with family and friends, too many Christians fail to include in their discussions talk of their walk with the Lord. They tend not to share with their family and friends how God has brought them faithfully through this year. They are willing to talk about everything else but Jesus. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Don’t have a Jesus-free Christmas! See that you and your family are keeping Christ in Christmas. There are many ways you can do this. For example, plan to take your family to a church Christmas program that tells the story of Christ’s birth. While decorating the tree, play or sing Christmas hymns that give praise to our Lord. Make sure to share with your family and friends how God has blessed you this year. And, always make sure your family knows the story of the birth of our Savior. Luke 2: 1-20 spells out in detail how Jesus was born in Bethlehem. This Bible passage may be one you’d even want to read aloud together. Listen to a reading of this account by clicking here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCKpwaRxIww&feature=youtube_gdata.

And, have a very Merry CHRISTmas!

(Re-posted from my December 2014 Blog)

Helpful Links:

Focus on the Family www.focusonthefamily.com

Crown Financial Ministries http://www.crown.org

The Christian Broadcasting Network www.cbn.com

World Magazine http://www.worldmag.com

Are you living the “thankful” life?

Nov12

Question: How can I stop complaining so much and remember to be more thankful?

Answer: Start by taking a few moments right now to thank God for the many blessings in your life! Ask God to forgive you for all the times you’ve failed to give Him the glory for your life. Our Heavenly Father knows that none of our lives will be perfect, for only Jesus Christ lived a perfect life. God knows that we often have to deal with frustrations and disappointments. He knows that we can find these times hard to deal with. He has given Believers His Holy Spirit to live in us, and to guide and strengthen us as we deal with these challenges. It’s through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can learn to live the “thankful” life during both good times and hard times.

God commands us, as Believers, to be obedient to His Holy Word. He wants us to live our lives to please Him. Multiple times in His Word, He lets us know that part of being obedient is being thankful. For example:

-In Psalm 92:1, His Word tells us that “It is good to give thanks to the LORD…” (NKJV)

-Psalm 100:4-5 says, “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.”

-Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

-First Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

So, we see in these scriptures and in many others why God wants us to be thankful. He wants us to value and appreciate all that He has done and continues to do for us because He loves us. Of course, we are to be most thankful for the ultimate way God showed His love for us: by giving us His Son, Jesus Christ! (Read John 3:16)

Believers are thankful that God gave us Jesus to die on the cross to take the punishment we deserve for our sins and that Jesus rose again on the third day to live with God forever in Heaven. We are thankful that we’ve accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior, have asked Him to forgive us of our sins, and have repented of our sins to also be able to live in Heaven one day.

For these reasons and many others, we have so many blessings in our lives for which to be thankful. God wants us to be thankful at all times – when things are easy and even when things are difficult. He wants us to know that He is always with us and has given us His Holy Spirit to help us.

Through the power of His Holy Spirit in us, we can live the “thankful” life!

Reposted from my November 12, 2022 blog post.

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