04/14/2024
The journey through the devotional messages of E.M. Bounds that I took several years ago taught me much about developing a full and holy prayer life, and the results of such a life that naturally concludes in God answering us. I learned how the aroma of that blessing, that gracious response, is a sense of gratitude which should be expressed in thanksgiving as we continue on in our prayers. Bounds conveyed this revelation with these words: "thanksgiving is the expression of an inward, conscious gratitude to God for mercies received." He goes on to say that "Gratitude is an inward emotion of the soul, involuntarily arising therein." Don’t we find this true in our lives?
“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”
Colossians 4:2 ESV
“Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 CSB
So, prayer, gratitude, and thanksgiving go hand in hand; they are the progression of the Christian prayer life. But, if this is such a natural occurrence, why do we need to discuss it and keep revisiting the subject? There are a couple of reasons; it is because we are human and can begin taking God's provision for granted, and secondly, we can get spiritually crossways with God over occurrences in our lives that cause a rift between us.
Taking God's mercy and provision for granted is a part of human nature; we see this in our own children and those around us. A constant and dependable flow of those things they need or want can become so automatic that they forget their value and the effort it took to provide them. An occasionally forgotten thank you goes without much notice but the cessation of all thanksgiving eventually leads us to feel taken advantage of, or, in the case of our children, view them as being spoiled. In either case we are prompted to correct that poor behavior through example and instruction. But, when God corrects us that is occasion for some real soul searching and contrition.
“It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?”
Hebrews 12:7 ESV
The second reason I gave for the lack of thanksgiving is more difficult and the results can be catastrophic in regards to our relationship with God. Getting crossways with God can lead to greater closeness and love as we resolve our differences, or it can lead to a dissolution of the marriage altogether. This is a crossroads and in only a few steps our paths could part.
A few years ago I learned of a college classmate whose son was tragically killed when a car struck him. In terms of their faith his loved ones are at a crossroads. They can place their head on the shoulder of Jesus and as He comforts them they can mourn, and cry their way through the loss, or they can blame God for a lack of protection and become bitter... in this they will be withholding their thankfulness. In the event they allow Jesus to comfort them, all is well for their soul and they will be blessed in their mourning, but if they choose to go nose to nose with God the situation becomes far more dire.
““Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.””
Matthew 5:4 ESV
Having tough discussions with God are a part of our relationship. The very fact that we are shouting at Him acknowledges our belief that He exists, but now we must resolve the conflict. God must convince us through his word and other (sometimes miraculous) means that He loves us and that what occurred was indeed necessary and right. I am a long way from the home of my classmate, but am certain these emotions are being worked out as I write. It will require much prayer by my classmate’s family, and by me and others who care for them, but the next few steps in their spiritual walk can make a great deal of difference for years or perhaps eternity. I thank God for this family and for the life of their son.
So thanksgiving is not a foregone conclusion, it is indeed a conscious expression of our inward gratitude. We can chose to express it, we can ignore it, or in some circumstances, we can withhold it altogether. Thanking God is important to our relationship; it tells Him in no uncertain terms how we feel, and it allows us to vent our gratitude in joy, or sometimes it honors God in the tough situations of life that He is helping us through.
This morning, regardless of our situation (joyous, grief stricken, or just well provided for) let's thank God in our prayers. Some of us will joyfully sing out our thanks, some of us will need to remind ourselves to thank Him, and others of us will weep through our thanksgiving. Whatever your circumstance today, I pray for you, and I pray for your relationship with God. May He lift you, love you, bless you, heal you, and yes... May He comfort you and hold you in His arms. May the aroma of His blessing surround you this day as you pray.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for every answered pray that we pray to you, and for those you answer as we sit silently in tears with your arms around us. Help us Father when we are so heartbroken, or lost, that we must struggle to find the spiritual blessing in what we are physically experiencing. Strengthen us Lord, because only your gift of love causes us to experience care, mourning, longing, and all of the many emotions in which, and for which, we pray. Without your gift of love we would not hurt, feel disappointment, or be heartbroken, but we would also lose the need to come to you, receive the solace you provide, and experience the love we feel when giving you thanks. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who was, and is, and will always be our provider, defender, comforter, and you are eternally He who loves us, even when we wrestle with our emotions while struggling to give you thanks. Your mercy abounds Lord, and your grace covers us in our times of doubt and spiritual hardship. We thank you for our answered prayers, for the silence as we wait on you, and for every blessing, whether apparent to us or not. Hear us as we pray without ceasing and circumcise our hearts as we struggle to remember that all things work together for good to those who love you. We are blessed in our thanksgiving Abba, even as you are glorified, and in this we experience the strength and aroma of our eternal relationship with you.
“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”
1 John 5:14-15 ESV
Amen!
Rich Forbes