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Thanksgiving is not a one day event. It should be your constant attitude! Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. --1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 It’s a good thing to take time out to give thanks this time of year, but of course, Thanksgiving shouldn’t be a one-time event in your life. Gratitude should be part of your daily lifestyle! And the Bible reveals some godly habits you and I need to develop to truly be thankful people all year round. The first habit is joyfulness. First Thessalonians 5:16 says, “Rejoice always.” Now, it’s important to remember that this kind of joy isn’t found in your external circumstances. It’s found by focusing on Jesus in the midst of your circumstances. The second habit of a thankful person is prayerfulness. First Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to “pray without ceasing.” Now, I know this sounds like a tall order! But the Scripture is telling you and me that we need to live life with a mindfulness of God’s presence all the time. We do this by acknowledging Him throughout the day and developing a habit of talking to Him about every experience we have in life, whether it’s good or bad. The third habit of a thankful person is, well, being intentional about being thankful! First Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Give thanks in all circumstances….” This doesn’t mean we’d call everything we see or experience if life good, necessarily, it means that in the midst of everything, God is good. And because God is good all the time, you have a reason to be thankful no matter what you’re going through today! Finally, being thankful requires the habit of hopefulness. Now, I’m not talking about wishful thinking here. I’m talking about believing what God says… that as a believer, you can become more and more like Jesus and that you will be with Him one day in heaven. So what about you? Are you living in joyfulness… prayerfulness… thankfulness… and hopefulness? Remember, these habits are actually commands! So I challenge you today… and every day… to cultivate these important qualities in your life!

Thursday, November 22, 2018

The Path to God’s Presence

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”

Psalm 100:1–5

Through the centuries, people have tried many different routes to achieving closeness and a sense of God’s presence. Many of these are part of false religions, and no matter how elaborate the ceremonies or how extravagant the sacrifices, they are praying to gods that cannot see or hear or respond. There may be some semblance of a religious experience, but there can never be the close connection that Christians have with the Father in Heaven who loves and cares for them.

If we want to be close to God, to come into His presence as we have been invited and commanded to do, we must be people of praise. God’s goodness to us is overwhelming. It is beyond our ability to fully comprehend, and no matter how grateful we are, we will never exhaust the list of things for which we are indebted to Him. When we praise God, it brings us into His very presence. David wrote, “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel” (Psalm 22:3).

The pathway to God’s presence is paved with the praises of His people. When we insist on prideful self-reliance, we should not be surprised to find ourselves feeling distant from God. He has already warned us that would happen. “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6). Lift your heart to God today in grateful thanks and humble praise.

Today’s Growth Principle: 

The closeness of our relationship with God is greatly enhanced by our praise and worship of God.