Devotion:
Read Philippians 4:4-7.
The apostle Paul tells us to pray with thankfulness and gratitude rejoicing in the Lord always. But isn’t it hard to give thanks when things are not going well for us? How can you rejoice and be grateful when someone has betrayed you, you have lost a loved one, or financially you are struggling? How can you give thanks when you have been diagnosed with a terminal disease?
Does Paul not know what life is all about? Of course, Paul knows, as he was writing this from a prison in the Roman Empire. Paul had learned from personal experience that joy in the Lord does not depend on having things go our way or having everything we want. It means we really need to trust the Lord. Paul doesn’t tell us to be thankful for tragedies that come our way. He doesn’t tell us to be grateful over the fact that someone we love is gone. He wants us to rejoice in the Lord and believe in God’s love. Paul wants us to rejoice in the God who never changes, who forgives, and who never turns his back on us. The more we pray and stay near to God, the more we will be able to rejoice in him, thank him for all our blessings, and show gratitude for His unending love.
Personal Worship Option:
Lord, sometimes it seems almost impossible for us to show gratitude. Help us to understand that only in and through your Holy Spirit can we possibly rejoice and be grateful. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment