Thankful and Grateful
Thanksgiving G2169 in our study verse Philippians 4:6 means GRATITUDE or GRATEFUL LANGUAGE. Isn’t it so true that “our language” or what we talk about shows us what is in our heart? Eek! Heart check for me. For more insight into our hearts, let’s look at Luke 6:45 New American Standard Bible:
The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good: and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.
A question for us… what treasure is filling our heart? Hopefully, our heart is full of the TREASURE OF HIS WORD. And we need to be wise in how we talk. We need to change how we talk about our situation, change our language, keeping our hearts thankful to Him, because we know He has our best interests and we know we can trust Him.
Do we complain so much about our situation that if a non-believer listened to us, they would think we have no HOPE? When we start to thank God, despite our circumstances, it can change our whole attitude. When one of our children was younger, she tended to complain a lot. I made her keep a THANKFUL JOURNAL. Whenever she would complain, I had her write down: what she complained about, a Bible verse about thankfulness, and how she could apply that verse to her situation in order to be more thankful. I think, we as adults, need THANKFUL JOURNALS! It is a good way to keep ourselves thankful.
The root of the word thanksgiving G2170 means grateful, thankful, WELL-FAVORED. This reminds me of Psalms 5:12 New American Standard Bible (Italics mine) which says:
For it is Thou who dost bless the righteous man, O Lord, Thou dost surround him with favor as with a shield.
We are righteous when we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior (see 2 Corinthians 5:21). And we will study the favor of God more at a later date, but for now just know that according to this verse His FAVOR surrounds us, protects us, and nothing can touch us unless it is part of His plan for us. Yes, we go through suffering and trials, but He also uses those to mold and shape us to be more like Jesus. So the conclusion is that if nothing can touch us unless it is part of His plan, then we can TRUST HIM that He is in control of our circumstances, and
WE CAN BE THANKFUL AS WE TRUST HIM WITH OUR REQUESTS.
In His Love,
Suzanne
Mom Morsels 