Grumbling to Gratitude

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Grumbling to Gratitude

Dear Heavenly Father,

I praise You for choosing me before the foundation of the world to belong to Jesus (Eph 1:4-5,11). I praise You for giving me a new and thankful heart through faith in Jesus (Eze 36:26). Today, help me to walk in that newness of life You've given me (Eph 4:24). Today, the only thing I want to be filled with is Your Holy Spirit. For whatever fills my heart guides my steps. Today, I don't want to be guided by my feelings or the push and pull of the world. Today, I only want to be guided by Your Holy Spirit, resting in Jesus while I work and go about my day. 

Today, when I start being discontent in my heart or complaining out loud, help me to see my sin for what it is and turn away from such nonsense….because I have everything to be thankful for! Jesus is my Savior! As a child of God, I have no reason to grumble about anything or anyone, even though I am often tempted to at times. Today, help me not give into that temptation. Help me to resist the devil, and he will flee. Help me to come near to You instead (James 4:7-8). Grumbling only grieves the Holy Spirit, and I don't want to do that to Him. Today, I want to thank Him and be joyful in Him. Lord, I believe, help my unbelief (Mark 9:24)! For I know all of my sins can be overcome by simple faith in God's Word (See Mark 9:23). I know the perfect cure for grumbling is gratitude for the hope I've been given in Jesus.

The Locomotive Truth

Regardless of my earthly circumstances, help me to turn to Jesus in thankfulness for my eternal circumstances. And what magnificent circumstances I've been dealt! The Royal Flush! I am saved by grace, empowered by grace, sealed for Heaven, and kept by Your power forever. I am in Christ. I belong to Jesus! Lord, today will you help me keep that eternal perspective in my thoughts? Even when I can’t always rejoice in my earthly circumstances, help me to rejoice in the Lord always (Phil 4:4), knowing that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 3:8). May my feelings be all the boxcars and the caboose to the locomotive Truth in Jesus. Today, may my feelings be hooked up to the the Truth of Your Word....transporting feelings of love, joy, and peace, patience, goodness, and faithfulness, kindness, gentleness, and self control. What precious cargo!

Bold Enough to be Gentle

Help me go about my day by today being reminded who Jesus is and what Jesus did for me. Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Jesus died on the cross for my sins, was buried, and three days later He rose again…so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. Lord, today help me keep the Gospel Truth in the forefront of my mind. May my heart overflow with thankfulness that sends praise upwards and spills outwards into blessings for others. 

Today, help me to tell someone about Jesus. Lord, help me to be bold enough to be gentle in my approach and confident in my delivery…with the words that You give me at the time. Even if I fumble over my words, I know it's only Your power that brings a person to Jesus (1 Corinth 2:1-5). Help me to be bold enough to be gentle and leave the results up to You. I know that Salvation belongs to You, Lord. (Ps 3:8, 62:1, Rev 7:10, Jonah 2:9). And I am Your vessel. Help me to be empty of myself so that Your power has all the room to flow through me, boldly and gently. (2 Corinth 4:7, 2 Corinth 12:9-10).

Today, help me to grow in gratitude for the grace that You've given me through faith in Jesus. He gets all the glory! In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen!

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Always be joyful. ¹⁷ Never stop praying. ¹⁸ Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. ¹⁹ Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. ²⁰ Do not scoff at prophecies,²¹ but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.²² Stay away from every kind of evil.

²³ Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. ²⁴ God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24