Winning Words © Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 In his book The Finishing Touch, pastor, teacher, and author Charles Swindoll talks about the vital sequence of Thanksgiving and Christmas: It occurred to me last week that there is a very practical reason why Thanksgiving always precedes Christmas: It sets in motion the ideal mental attitude to carry us through the weeks in between. In other words, a sustained spirit of gratitude makes the weeks before Christmas a celebration rather than a marathon. As this marathon we run quickly leaves our Thanksgiving Day memories in the dust, gratitude has a way of giving way to grumbling. At a time when we should be filled with peace and joy, our minds and nerves are on edge. There is so much left to do, and seemingly so little time left to accomplish all that is on our growing “to do” lists. And so today I invite you to take a break from the frenzy of busy activity and spend some time thanking God for his goodness to you. Charles Swindoll suggests the following list as a way to jump-start you own list of things you are grateful for: Thank you, Lord: for your sovereign control over our circumstances, for your holy character in spite of our sinfulness, for your commitment to us even when we wander astray, for your Word that gives us direction, for your love that holds us close, for your gentle compassion in our sorrows, for your consistent faithfulness through our highs and lows, for your understanding when we are confused, for your spirit that enlightens our eyes, and for your grace that removes our guilt. Now, add you own words to Swindoll’s list of blessings that all of God’s children have received as part of their adoption as sons and daughters of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. What special blessings have you received from God’s gracious, giving hand that were tailored specially to your personality, your needs, your present circumstances, and your unique relationship with God—the One from whom all blessings flow? Every day is filled with bite-sized blessings that all-too-often go unnoticed as we gulp down life instead of savoring the goodness of God. Today is the day to give thanks in all circumstances, for that is our Lord’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Jesus came to give you life—rich, full, abundant life. Claim your heritage as a child of God as you count your blessings and savor God’s goodness and grace. Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska wont make it white. ~~Bing Crosby Winning Words—The Word of God written to encourage, strengthen, comfort, assure and gives hope to the people of God. An archive of past winning words is available on my website: mywinningwords.org
Posted on: Tue, 03 Dec 2013 16:10:41 +0000
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