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My Two Cents
by Rev Chuck Behrens
November, 2013
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Past Articles |
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It's amazing what a
difference two words can make. For example if you're a teenager, your life
can change dramatically when you hear just two words, "You're grounded!"
Or if you're working, "You're fired." Or those two words that changed my
life forever. You know what those two words were? "I do." It's amazing
what two words can do.
Now, if you're in a down time right now, there are two words that can make
all the difference to you. And then there are two words you don't feel
like saying at all. 1 Thessalonians 5:18. For those of us who are
wondering what God's will is right now, here it is. "Give thanks in all
circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Paul says
here that the giving of thanks in all circumstances is really tied to our
destiny in being in the center of God's will. I think that the suggestion
here is that two of the most powerful words we can speak are "Thank you."
Or more precisely, "Thank God."
We all know that we like to be thanked, and we all know how it feels to do
a lot for someone and never get a thank you. Right? Of course God is an
expert in that field. But when you say, "Thank God", that's when I think
it does more for you than it does for Him, especially if you're in a time
in your life when you don't feel like saying thanks, because the specific
present circumstances aren't very pleasant.
There are a few benefits, I think, that come from saying those two
powerful words, "Thank God!" First of all - contentment. Even in the midst
of an ugly situation like Paul being in prison, you can find contentment
by saying the words, "Thank you." Paul certainly knew about that when he
wrote the book of Philippians in chapter 4.
Remember what he said? "The peace of God that passes all understanding
will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus." He had experience to
write that. And then he says in verse 6, "In everything by prayer and
petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Say, "Thank
God" and a marvelous sense of contentment will come over you, even in one
of life's prisons. The secret of contentment in a crummy situation-a
terrible situation-is to focus on the Lord - the good things that He has
been doing in the middle of the bad. It means focusing on what you have,
not what you don't have. Thank God!
The second thing that it does is you don't need to be noticed. See, pride
gets stamped out at the gate when you give credit where credit is due and
is properly given to God right away. "God, I know this was You. Thank
You." When you start to take the glory for what God has done, stop. Send
it up to God, "Thank God." Don't let the ego start to inflate.
The third benefit of saying "Thank God" is confidence. Because, you see,
the same God who blessed your life in the past, who brought you through
other things in the past, is going to meet you today. Look at His track
record. Look at His history. The same God who I just thanked for moving a
mountain yesterday, He is going to move mountains again for you. He'll do
it all again! He's done it all these years for all His people. He's the
same yesterday. He's the same today. He's the same forever. He's going to
meet your needs today.
Rejoicing is really the habit of looking for God at work and acknowledging
it when you see it. Thanking God is sort of like putting sweetener in a
bitter drink. Negative thoughts are just going to make the drink that much
more bitter. A thankful heart, a joyful heart, a heart that believes that
God has said, "I know the plans I have for you. They are for good and not
for evil; to give you a future and a hope."
In the midst of this small dot in your life, look at the big picture and
say, "Thank You, Lord." It's the only true THANKSGIVING worth celebrating
this or any other Month.
See You in Church,
Rev. Chuck
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