- BE GRATEFUL -

[acomplishedartis]

Gratitude is huge! It's so powerful because it's acknowledging that we are part of the whole and it takes us away from our selfish selves. Believing and having faith in the Salvation of All can keep us on a constant state of gratefulness and deep appreciation.

"Giving thanks always for ALL THINGS unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ"      (Eph. 5:20)

I guess that "all things" include what we have and what we don't, all our ideas and feelings, all the places we go, the foods we eat, the resting times we enjoy, and etc., etc.

"...THANKS, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority..." (1Tim. 2:2)

By giving thanks to God for all our authorities (anyone who has any kind of power over us) we are automatically acknowledging that God is in control of EVERYBODY and we that have no free-will. Politicians, companies – kings, they are all bellow God; giving thanks for all of them will bring us peace; after all, we are getting closer to God (whom among powerful authorities; He is the Most Powerful)...

Giving thanks for all the people that crosses our path (either they are lovely or not) also brings good things to us; at the end, everybody will come to the knowledge of The Truth...

Giving thanks for our friends is even easier. When Paul was writing to his friends in Thessalonica he was so grateful for is spiritual grow,

"We are bound to THANK GOD ALWAYS FOR YOU, BRETHREN [my buddies!], as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth"   (2Thes. 1:3)

And if you have the appreciation skills to see God's goodness, loving kindness and wonderful works, then you have more material to be grateful. We can even be grateful for His parental discipline and correction even when it hurts. The poet king David wrote

"At midnight I will rise to GIVE THANKS UNTO THEE because of thy righteous judgments."
(Psalm 119:62)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
And it's trough righteous judgments that everybody will be saved:

"...for WHEN THY JUDGMENTS are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness."                       (Isaiah 26:9)

And seems like we should also,

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, SINGING AND MAKING MELODY IN YOUR HEART [Yes, let our lives become a beautiful melody!] to the Lord; GIVING THANKS ALWAYS FOR ALL THINGS unto God"       (Eph. 5:20)

"IN EVERY THING GIVE THANKS: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."   (1Tes. 5:18)

"In every circumstance of life be thankful; for this is God's will in Christ Jesus respecting you"    (Version WNT)

So, seems like being grateful do not sounds as a suggestion...

[AwesomeSavior]

Moises:

I can testify to your words in my life. God's judgments have been intensifying within me lately. I do chuckle a bit about something else related to your post. I had been thinking about my Babylonian days in the Southern Baptist church recently. There was one sermon title that kept coming to my mind from the pastor. "Let Gratitude be your Attitude". I don't remember the sermon, but the title is scriptural.   

Dean

[lilitalienboi16]

Gratitude is huge! It's so powerful because it's acknowledging that we are part of the whole and it takes us away from our selfish selves. Believing and having faith in the Salvation of All can keep us on a constant state of gratefulness and deep appreciation.

"Giving thanks always for ALL THINGS unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ"      (Eph. 5:20)

I guess that "all things" include what we have and what we don't, all our ideas and feelings, all the places we go, the foods we eat, the resting times we enjoy, and etc., etc.

"...THANKS, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority..." (1Tim. 2:2)

By giving thanks to God for all our authorities (anyone who has any kind of power over us) we are automatically acknowledging that God is in control of EVERYBODY and we that have no free-will. Politicians, companies – kings, they are all bellow God; giving thanks for all of them will bring us peace; after all, we are getting closer to God (whom among powerful authorities; He is the Most Powerful)...

Giving thanks for all the people that crosses our path (either they are lovely or not) also brings good things to us; at the end, everybody will come to the knowledge of The Truth...

Giving thanks for our friends is even easier. When Paul was writing to his friends in Thessalonica he was so grateful for is spiritual grow,

"We are bound to THANK GOD ALWAYS FOR YOU, BRETHREN [my buddies!], as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth"   (2Thes. 1:3)

And if you have the appreciation skills to see God's goodness, loving kindness and wonderful works, then you have more material to be grateful. We can even be grateful for His parental discipline and correction even when it hurts. The poet king David wrote

"At midnight I will rise to GIVE THANKS UNTO THEE because of thy righteous judgments."
(Psalm 119:62)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
And it's trough righteous judgments that everybody will be saved:

"...for WHEN THY JUDGMENTS are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness."                       (Isaiah 26:9)

And seems like we should also,

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, SINGING AND MAKING MELODY IN YOUR HEART [Yes, let our lives become a beautiful melody!] to the Lord; GIVING THANKS ALWAYS FOR ALL THINGS unto God"       (Eph. 5:20)

"IN EVERY THING GIVE THANKS: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."   (1Tes. 5:18)

"In every circumstance of life be thankful; for this is God's will in Christ Jesus respecting you"    (Version WNT)

So, seems like being grateful do not sounds as a suggestion...

Great reminder Moises and good scriptural references. Thank you brother!

[John from Kentucky]

I disagree.  When I hear something that sounds too goody, goody, I pause and ask myself if what is being said is truth.

If I lived under Hitler, should I give thanks for an evil man who was the active murderer of millions?

I recall Jesus called Herod an "Old Fox", hardly a complimentary statement about a ruler.  Also, Jesus didn't have good things to say about Satan who is the chief ruler over this world.

The Spirit of God is the Spirit of a sound mind.  The Spirit of God works actively with us to guide us as to the correctness of Scriptures being quoted.

1 Tim 2:2 tells us the reason to pray for rulers is that we (the Elect) should have a "peaceable and quiet life".  Not that we should be thankful for the evil that they all do.

[lilitalienboi16]

I disagree.  When I hear something that sounds too goody, goody, I pause and ask myself if what is being said is truth.

If I lived under Hitler, should I give thanks for an evil man who was the active murderer of millions?

I recall Jesus called Herod an "Old Fox", hardly a complimentary statement about a ruler.  Also, Jesus didn't have good things to say about Satan who is the chief ruler over this world.

The Spirit of God is the Spirit of a sound mind.  The Spirit of God works actively with us to guide us as to the correctness of Scriptures being quoted.

1 Tim 2:2 tells us the reason to pray for rulers is that we (the Elect) should have a "peaceable and quiet life".  Not that we should be thankful for the evil that they all do.

Agreed John but I don't think Moises was saying that we should be thankful for the evil that is committed by the rulers, but rather acknowledge the sovereignty of God in the matter so we may live peacefully.

As Moises stated, "By giving thanks to God for all our authorities (anyone who has any kind of power over us) we are automatically acknowledging that God is in control of EVERYBODY and we that have no free-will. Politicians, companies – kings, they are all bellow God; giving thanks for all of them will bring us peace"

At least that is how I understood it.

God bless,
Alex

[John from Kentucky]

No Alex, giving thanks for the evil rulers of this world will not bring us peace.  Things will only continue to get worse in this age.

Jesus will bring peace and salvation when He returns in the age to come.

[lilitalienboi16]

No Alex, giving thanks for the evil rulers of this world will not bring us peace.  Things will only continue to get worse in this age.

Jesus will bring peace and salvation when He returns in the age to come.

Right John, I understand this age will continue as it has been since the beginning. I was refering to how Moises said the prayers for those in authority was not to change the world to 'save them' (or whatever you want) or even to be thankful for the evil they bring but was rather for, as moises put it, "giving thanks for all of them will bring us peace"

'US' meaning those of the household of God. The israel of God. Atleast thats how I interpreted it, not 'us' as in the world. That is exactly what paul says too, FOR US TO LIVE 'PEACABLE (that is to live in peace) and in quiet'

1 Timothy 2:1-2
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

Also one can give thanks FOR evil rulers and one can give thanks on their behalf (for), i.e. praising God for His salvation which will one day include all humanity, even those evil rulers.

God bless,
Alex

[lostANDfound]

I thank God for the long term results of the evil and suffering of this life, I have yet to be grateful for the actual evil and suffering though.

[acomplishedartis]

Moises:

I can testify to your words in my life. God's judgments have been intensifying within me lately. I do chuckle a bit about something else related to your post. I had been thinking about my Babylonian days in the Southern Baptist church recently. There was one sermon title that kept coming to my mind from the pastor. "Let Gratitude be your Attitude". I don't remember the sermon, but the title is scriptural.   

Dean

Hi Dean.

Good to hear that you found your self identified with what I wrote.  I also went trough some VERY hard times in the first 6 moths of this year, sometimes it felt like walking through fire, not many "goody, goody" feelings when is happening but God's judgements are for correction and I am greatful that I went through it all as I would not be where I find my self now with out it. Trying to keep an attitude of gratitude is the escence of what I wanted to convey, thanks for mention it.

'Attitude' matters so much, I love that word. When talking online with people sometimes is not that easy to truly read their attitude when they are trying to express themselves, but there are hints that we can read by the words they chose.


Alex.
You did got what I was trying to convey. What I mean is that there is nothing to add and nothing to take out. I believe that for God everything is meaningful and it has purspose; no matter if we can't fully understand it at times.