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Thankful to God in all things
Rhys 🕊:
Thanks guys, helpful advice indeed. Guess it's something I still struggle with but I am sure I will get there. I find that article Praying by God's rules quite helpful and have read many times. I often thank God for the tough times but I often don't feel it in my heart.
Looks like I need to take up surfing. Oh well off now to buy a surfboard.
Rhys ::)
Extol:
Rhys,
Something I struggle with at times is the expectation of things going wrong, and the fear and worry that comes with it.
See, I have a very good life. I have a nice house, a car, a job. I'm married, and am a successful student. I've never known what it's like to miss a meal. Etc. Etc. I sometimes wonder, Where is the bad? Where is the persecution? I've had some marital problems, and a few people have ridiculed my beliefs, but it's nothing compared to what a lot of people--even unbelievers--have experienced.
I'm caught in this awkward place between wanting to live a good, happy life and yet not wanting too much, because then I may not be "qualified for the kingdom". I want to be a good provider, but should I try not to make too much money? I want to be educated, but should I try not to get too educated (and be one of the "wise after the flesh" [1 Cor. 1:26])? This might sound ridiculous, but I sometimes feel a bit guilty for being a hard worker and a dedicated student. . . because I don't want to feel like I am trying to gain the world, only to lose my soul (Matt. 16:26).
I think when it comes down to it, these are all just my own carnal thoughts; it's me trying to work out my life, instead of trusting that God is working all things after the counsel of His will [Eph. 1:11].
It would benefit me to follow JFK's excellent advice; hope you don't mind if I join you in your surfing excursion. I may be in the middle of the big, wide U.S. of A., but you're never far from the ocean where you live. 8)
gregorydc:
Hey Extol,
Your scriptures are good and true, but you forget a few people in the bible like, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Job, Solomon, plus many more. All of these people had a good life with plenty and God gave them even more. Just because you feel that you have a lot doesn't mean that your trials and tribulations will come that way. It is Gods good pleasure how you live, and how he blesses you. I remember in one of Rays papers where he spoke about how he made thousands of dollars a month at one time. I believe as long as it doesn't go to your head let the Lord keep blessing you, maybe your meant to pass it along to someone else along the way? Who knows? Only God. May God keep blessing you too my friend, and the rest of us here.
Greg
Gina:
It's something you have to learn how to do just like everything else. Ray can say he's thankful and wants more tribulation till the cows come home, but do you know how many YEARS it might have taken him to get to that point?!
Telling someone they ought to do something and expecting them to want to go off and start doing it immediately, and/or expecting them to know exactly how it's done are two different things.
Ask God for wisdom regarding this. The carnal mind is emnity with God. No one's thankful in all things in the beginning -- when they're carnal.
And since we don't know exactly what you're going through, for all we know it might have nothing to do with tribulation at all, but it might be the chastening of the Lord -- and you might be unthankful because you're despising it. In which case, it makes sense that you're not able to be thankful. Because no chastening in the PRESENT seems pleasant...
Hebrews 12:4
God Disciplines His Sons
4 You have not yet resisted to blood, striving against sin.
5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to children, My son, despise not you the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and whips every son whom he receives.
7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not?
8 But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are you bas*tards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they truly for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous:
nevertheless A-F-T-E-R-W-A-R-D it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to them which are exercised thereby.
And p.s. I don't think Ray ever expected everyone who reads that to automatically and suddenly be having feelings of thankfulness. When I'm personally going through hard times, be they tribulation, persecution or judgment/chastening -- I have to FORCE myself (Yes! I know it's God operating in me to will -- so don't be offended by that statement, anyone! lol) to say to God, You know, this is not pleasant but I know there's a good reason for it.
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV - For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
He plans to give us hope and a future and it will happen! Because he can't take back His word. He can't and He won't. But it feels like he's got other things in mind. (His ways are definitely not my ways. lol)
Rhys 🕊:
You make some points there Gina. I know some things I am thankful later on because I get to see what God is doing. Mind you I also go through some tough things but seem to be thankful straight away. I just wonder to myself why not be thankful straight away in all things if you know God is working in you. Yes I can see a bit of the chastening of the Lord going on with me and thanks for the versus. It's good to go through it even at times you wish you weren't.
Greg - I think Ray also said in another audio that he just didn't want all the money and nice things as it would be a distraction from doing what God wants. I do get blessed at times with making good sales in my business and have plenty of money which I am thankful to God. If I am doing well I just pray for God's wisdom in the good times and not too take it for granted.
Extol - Let's both go surfing. I think you play tennis as I do so we can do that as well. I think we just need to trust in God as my experience in life I have seen the good and the bad. Sometimes the good can come to end pretty quickly and your left wondering what went wrong, just have to trust in God everyday and realise the verse that Gina shared:
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV - For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Rhys
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