Welcome to “Praising God Daily: A Devotional of Gratitude”, which is designed to help you cultivate a habit of giving thanks to God every day, no matter what your circumstances may be. See, in this world, it is so easy to focus on the negative things around us, so, it’s important to intentionally set aside time to acknowledge and give thanks for the good things that we have in our lives.
Let’s begin this journey of praise and thanksgiving together, knowing that as we give thanks to God, our hearts will be filled with joy and peace that can only come from Him.
» Tuesday, 14th March 2023 | I Stand In The Gap Daily Devotional | Praising God Daily: A Devotional of Gratitude
Yesterday, we had a look at “Dwelling in the Secret Place“, and today’s is “Praising God Daily: A Devotional of Gratitude”.
Anchor verse of the day
In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV)
This verse is a reminder to us that as followers of Christ, we should give thanks to God in all circumstances, whether we are experiencing good times or bad times.
Themes in 1 Thessalonians 5:18
- Gratitude: The text exhorts us to express our thankfulness by giving thanks. Gratitude is an essential component of our relationship with God because it expresses our appreciation for His favors and encourages us to concentrate on the good things in our lives rather than the bad.
- God’s will: The scripture informs us that God’s will for us as followers of Christ is to express gratitude in every situation. This means that when we express our gratitude, we connect ourselves with God’s purposes for our lives and show that we are following them.
- Giving thanks in all circumstances: Possibly the most difficult part of the verse is this. Giving thanks is simple when things are going well, but it is far more difficult when we are dealing with challenging situations. Nonetheless, the verse serves as a reminder that we should always give thanks since it supports our ability to keep a cheerful attitude and remember that God is always with us.
What is the background to 1 Thessalonians 5:18? (Praising God Daily: A Devotional of Gratitude)
The city of Thessalonica, which is now in modern-day Greece, is connected to the historical context of 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Around the year 50 AD, during his second missionary voyage, the apostle Paul established the church in Thessalonica.
After Paul went, though, the Thessalonian believers encountered severe persecution and were having a hard time clinging to their faith in the face of challenges. In response, Paul wrote the Thessalonians two letters—1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians—in which he aimed to bolster and encourage their faith.
Paul gives the Thessalonians detailed advice in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 on how to live a life that pleases God. He exhorts people to express gratitude always, especially in the face of adversity and hardship. Given their great hardship and opposition, the Thessalonians would have found this to be a difficult message to receive.
Paul, however, offers a message of inspiration and hope. He is assisting the Thessalonians to concentrate on the benefits of their faith and to remember that God is with them and cares for them, even in the midst of their difficulties, by encouraging them to express gratitude in all circumstances. This makes 1 Thessalonians 5:18 a potent proclamation of hope and fortitude in the face of difficulty.
How to live as a Christian based on the story of Phyllicai,
Once upon a time, there was a young woman named Phylicia who lived in a small village. She was a devout Christian, and her life revolved around her faith in God. Every day, she would wake up early in the morning and thank God for giving her another day to live.
Phylicia understood the importance of living a life of gratitude and thanksgiving, and she made it a point to express her appreciation for all the blessings in her life. Even in tough times, when things seemed bleak, she would turn to God and thank Him for His love, His faithfulness, and His provision.
One day, Phylicia faced a great challenge. She lost her job, and her savings were running low. She didn’t know how she was going to pay her bills or provide for herself. But instead of giving up, she turned to God in prayer and thanked Him for all the good things in her life. She thanked Him for her health, her family, and her friends. She thanked Him for the roof over her head and the food on her table.
As she prayed, Phylicia began to feel a sense of peace and calm wash over her. She realized that even in tough times, God was still with her, and He was taking care of her. She started to look for ways to make ends meet, and she was amazed at the opportunities that presented themselves to her.
Phylicia learned that when we live a life of thanksgiving and adoration, we become more aware of God’s provision and care for us. We are better able to recognize the gifts in our lives, even in the midst of adversity, and we are able to maintain an optimistic view of the world.
In the end, Phylicia found a new job, and she was able to provide for herself once again. But more than that, she learned a valuable lesson about the importance of living a life of thanksgiving and adoration. She realized that everything good in her life came from God and that the ultimate goal of her actions was to bring Him glory.
Reflection
Our anchor verse of 1 Thessalonians 5:18 is a strong and demanding verse that encourages us to express gratitude in all situations.
Giving thanks is simple when things are going well, but it is much more difficult when we are dealing with hardships or obstacles.
But the verse reassures us that it is God’s will for us to give thanks in every situation, not merely a suggestion. This means that when we express our gratitude, we connect ourselves with God’s purposes for our lives and show that we are following them.
The verse is fundamentally an exhortation to develop an attitude of thankfulness and to look for blessings in our lives, even during times of adversity. It serves as a reminder that God is constantly with us and that He genuinely cares about us, even when we are going through difficult times.
Beloved, we are prompted to think about the ways in which we might develop the habit of gratitude in our lives as we meditate on this verse and the title of “Praising God Daily: A Devotional of Gratitude“.
This may entail choosing to purposefully concentrate on the good things in our lives, looking for occasions to praise God, and realizing His provision and care for us, even in the midst of trying circumstances.
In the end, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 serves as a potent reminder that thankfulness is a fundamental component of our connection with God and that it has the capacity to change our lives and bring us nearer to Him. When we express our gratitude in every situation, we show that we put our faith in God and allow ourselves to be blessed abundantly by Him.
Prayer for Praising God Daily: A Devotional of Gratitude
Our Heavenly Father,
Today, as we stand in front of you, we lift up our hearts in thanks and adoration. We give you praise for the advantages you have given us, as well as for your steadfast love and loyalty throughout our life.
Lord, we beseech you to open our hearts and thoughts to the numerous ways in which you have benefited us as we begin this daily devotional of thanks and adoration. Help us to be grateful for everything, including the positive things in our lives, even when they are difficult to see.
We ask that you will use this devotional to strengthen our bond with you and advance our spiritual development. As we strive to live our lives for your glory, may it serve as a source of inspiration, hope, and encouragement.
We pray that the Lord would use this devotional to bless and encourage everyone who reads it. May it serve as a potent catalyst for change and development, guiding us toward becoming more like you and leading our lives with a spirit of thanksgiving and adoration.
As we pray, we say, “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,” which is how Jesus taught us to do it. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven; thy kingdom come. Give us our daily bread today and pardon our transgressions as we pardon those who transgress against us. Save us from evil rather than lead us into temptation. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever and ever.
Amen.
