How Thankful Are You (Part 2)

How Thankful Are You (Part 2)

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. Psalm 91:1

This devotional was written by Dr. Jerry Bridges and is one that I needed to hear today:

Most of us acknowledge that everything we have comes from God, but how often do we stop to give thanks to Him? At the end of a workday, do you take time to say, "Thank You, heavenly Father, for giving me the skill, ability and health to do my work today." Do you ever physically or mentally go through your house and say to God, "Everything in the house and the food in the cupboard and the car (or cars) in the driveway are gifts from You. Thank You for your gracious provision"?

When you give thanks at mealtime, is it routine and perfunctory, or is it a heartfelt expression of your gratitude to God for His continual provision of all your physical needs?

Taking for granted all the temporal provisions and spiritual blessings that God has so richly bestowed on us, and so failing to continually give thanks, is one of our "acceptable" sins. In fact, far too many Christians wouldn't think of it as sin. Yet Paul, in his description of a Spirit-filled person, said we're to be "giving thanks always and for everything to God." (Ephesians 5:20) Note the words ALWAYS and EVERYTHING. That means our whole lives should be ones of continually giving thanks.

Giving thanks to God for both His temporal and spiritual blessings in our lives is not just a nice thing to do -- it's the moral will of God. Failure to give Him the thanks due Him is sin. It may seem like a benign sin to us because it doesn't harm anyone else. But it is an affront and insult to the One who created us and sustains us every second of our lives. -- Jerry Bridges -- Holiness Day By Day.

I am thankful for the reminder that I need to be thankful for all things. How about you? -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 13; Genesis 31-32; Matthew 9:18-38

Dig This Quote: We should learn to live in the presence of the living God. He should be a well for us – delightful, comforting, unfailing, springing up to eternal life (John 4:14). When we rely on other people, their water supplies ultimately dry up. But the well of the Creator ever fails to nourish us. – Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Determined Digging: Level 1: Proverbs 4:23; Level 2: Psalm 66:16-20