{Text: Psalm 9:1-2}
Are we ever exempt from thankfulness? Some of you, probably all of us, have lived through something that we felt entitled to be less than grateful for. Life is life and sometimes, often times, life is hard. As believers, are we called to pretend it’s all fine and move forward with big smiles on our faces?
I think no. I think David, the author of psalm nine, is an amazing example. David lived through yuck, he messed up, he had enemies and problems galore. If He’d had a picture of God that was limited to believing in Him when life was perfect, the Psalms would’ve been much shorter. Instead, he lived out his faith in His heavenly Father but often lamenting the pain of HIs life while simultaneously counting the things God have given Him to be thankful for.
If we’re people who can only praise God in good, have we limited our view of Him? Is He good only in the sunshine? Is our life good only when all the things are going just so? No way. You can lament and pour your heart out to your Father in happiness and pain, plenty and want. But don’t excuse yourself from recounting His wonderful deeds. Give thanks with your whole heart — even the bits that are hurting.
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15 thoughts on "with our whole hearts"
So needed this! Thank you Jesus for meeting me right where I am, and thank you to the writers for allowing the spirit to use you to touch the lives of others!
Praise God for this word reminding us that we can praise Him in our pain! Praise God for his sovereignty and every good and perfect gift!
I have been finding myself complaining about my current circumstances and asking God why hasn't he taken me out of it by now, its been three years. Instead what I need to be focused on is learning from this circumstance and thanking Him that it's not worse than it is because it certainley can be. God has protected me from so many things and I ought to have a THANKFUL heart instead of a SELFISH heart.
So thankful for this group and the heart of everyone who shares. I find myself thanking God for the good things and feeling almost as though I shouldn't bother Him with the bad things – giving myself an excuse to gloss over the bad things in my relationship with Him… and that's not at all how He desires for us to commune with Him. Thank you for this reminder of praising Him with our WHOLE heart – even the parts that feel ugly or don't feel like praising Him.
Thank you for this! I need to hear this more often… Praising God in the bad not just when this are good. It’s difficult for me to wrap my head around sometimes and the more I hear it, the easier it becomes at times.
Thankful for this season.
I find it is certainly difficult to praise him in the BAD as well as the GOOD times….but in doing so, your faith abounds all the more. Love this study. Thank you, Lord, for She Reads Truth!
Praising God in all situations is such a glorious mystery to me. Two places I glimpse it is in:
"Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him…" (Job 13:15a)
"But if I cannot see God's love here on the Upper West Side of New York where we seem to have done everything possible to destroy the beauty of creation, it is going to do me little good to rejoice in beauty in the uncluttered world of the country." (The Irrational Season, M. L'Engle)
Truly, I often find myself pondering these words, trying to better understand them.
This is my first day on the plan and being apart of the community! So excited and what a subject to start out on. My husband and myself have been through some amazing situations that we felt it was okay to be less thankful for. However we have learned through the process, it's the other way around. In the midst of struggle is when we should be most thankful and faithful to the Lord. He knows what he is doing and knows the reason for the situation. My "about me" on my blog explains http://takeitlikeamommy.blogspot.com/p/my-story.h…
I am welcoming all the members of this wonderful encouraging group to follow my blog, Twitter and Instagram!
~Jessica
Blog: http://takeitlikeamommy.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @TakeItLikeAMom
Instagram: @jessica_dev
Welcome !You will absolutely LOVE this community. :) It has changed my life.
Blog: waitingwithjoy.wordpress.com
Twitter @waitingwithjoy
Instagram: waitingwithjoy
To abase, to abound. I seemed to struggle with what I wanted to say. So much, so much. From abuse as a child to an adult victim of a random assault. So much I have to praise him for. He has shown me that I am not just a victim, not just a survivor, but I am more than a conqueror. Claire I hold fast to the fact that I know that his plans are to prosper me. And despite what the enemy intended I stand, I blossom, I encourage others to revell in the awesomeness of God. The fact that we have all found this community is a testement to Gods care and concern for us all. Never alone! Lord I don’t have to look very far for a reason to praise U.
This plan and community are awesome! Today I recall how I am learnto be grateful, to praise God no matter the circumstances. It sounds simple but keeps me motivated and spiritually on track. Thanks for the reminder of St. Paul, Claire, we really can trust that our Lord will provide all we need.
I recently posted on the topic of thankfulness too. Thanks for your time ! http://jaajaabor.wordpress.com/2012/11/24/weekly-…
Jaajaabor,
Your blog is wonderful..I really liked your Thanksgiving post. Thanks for sharing!
In the good and the bad we turn to God. Paul has got to be the go to man for me here!
Philippians 4:10-13 NIV
I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Yes we cry out to God, for he knows are hearts before we do but we also know God is good throughout all things.
Jeremiah 29:11-12 NIV
11 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.12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
Claire, I love that part in Philippians. Every time I read it I think if Carrie ten Boom's The Hiding Place..a wonderful story about finding thanks in moments when I am not sure I could.
God is good throughout all things..I pray we have the strength and joy to remember that!