Annie
Scriptures: Philippians 4:6-7 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Hebrews 13:15 Psalm 136 Isaiah 12:4-5 There are all sorts of traditions about physical posture in prayer, kneeling, hands together, hands open, arms raised, heads bowed – the list goes on. But what about our spiritual posture?
Earlier this year, I had (long awaited and gratefully received) shoulder replacement surgery, which by God’s grace took the pain away immediately. However, the recovery has been slow and I have spent a lot of time crying out to God to help me. I realised, though, that my pleading was coming from a place of desperation. I was wrapped up in my anguish at feeling so useless, at being unable to do the post operative exercises that were so necessary to my recovery. Spiritually I was a blubbering mess, my posture was all wrong. God then opened my eyes and gave me words that I began to use each time I tried to move my very stiff, new joint, with muscles that had not been used for years. I began thanking God for this new joint, for the Oil of Holy Spirit lubricating, healing and restoring me, and the change was wonderful, not solely physically, but in the peace that flowed through me.
Then, a few days ago as I began seriously pondering and reading the scriptures, I realised that God was opening more up to me about this posture of thankfulness. As with all our life in Him, my thankfulness to God has to come from a pure heart; if it is just words, or if I am motivated by anything other than adoration of God for being Who He is, then my thankfulness is a sounding brass and clanging cymbal. Psalm 136 is a wonderfully clear command “give thanks to the Lord for He is good, for His mercy endures forever”. Then the Psalmist goes on to remind us that God is creator of all, sovereign in all and merciful throughout all, and closes with that command once again “Oh give thanks to the God of heaven, for His mercy endures forever”.
In his epistle, Paul tells the people of Thessalonica, and therefore us, to give thanks in all circumstances, being joyful as we pray without ceasing, for it is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus. God knows that joyful thanksgiving and prayers are beneficial for us, He has created us, formed us to be His people, set apart, made in His image. And the hallmark He has stamped upon us is thankfulness in and through every circumstance and situation of our lives.
We know from reading God’s Word that in the end times a prevailing characteristic among society is ingratitude. God’s people will stand out for their thankfulness, because they know Him and see all He has done and continues to do through every hardship, every persecution, every niggling frustration of their lives, as well as the moments of joy, comfort and peace.
As children of the Living God we cannot but give thanks for the extravagance of His lavish love and mercy to us. He sees us in all our depravity and sin, and offers us a trade. His Life in exchange for ours. We can be totally and utterly forgiven, our sins washed away by the precious Blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, assured of an everlasting life in Him. Truly, His Mercy endures forever, and all thanks and glory go to Him.
As I’ve been writing this, the lines of this song keep swirling in my head. My heart is filled with thankfulness To Him who bore my pain; Who plumbed the depths of my disgrace And gave me life again; Who crushed my curse of sinfulness And clothed me in His light And wrote His law of righteousness With pow’r upon my heart.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uiIyE1ju8Q&ab_channel=KeithandKristynGetty
Prayer:Oh Father God, create in us a heart that is pure and overflowing with thankfulness for all that You are and all that You do. Lift us out of the mire of our self absorbed lives and into Your glorious Light, with hearts made pure and filled with thanksgiving to You, our Lord and our God. In Jesus name and by the power of Holy Spirit we pray, Amen
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