My holiday season was going really great, but then my mom and I decided to Christmas shop. Usually, it's very fun, we mainly do it online. However, we ran into a few hiccups within a short time. Customer service needed to be contacted, my bank wanted to freeze my card, and we found out there were certain things we couldn't get exactly what was asked for. We actually ended up calling it a night before we had planned. This was an absolutely perfect time to get convicted. I was acting foolishly, when I should feel so blessed and grateful that - I have money to buy gifts, I didn't have to go anywhere, I was spending quality time with my family in my warm house after a filling meal, I have a computer and internet to talk with people to help me, and there are plenty of gifts out there to buy.
Yet, I needed to be convicted to realize all of that. It wasn't that I was experiencing breakthrough, captivity, oppression, or the unknown. I was just feeling stressed, impatient, and disappointed. This is why Paul reminds us to "...give thanks in all circumstances...", because there are so many different ones that we'll experience in our lifetime.
Additionally, we often forget to be quick at giving thanks or, in some situations, it just seems plain impossible to be grateful at all. Like in times of grieve or
busyness. Or when we're traveling or escaping. Or as we experience failure, temptation, or discipline. Or when we feel betrayed, burnt-out, annoyed, not enough, or angry. Or as we wait, work, learn, relax, or serve. And even in times of sickness, loss, or relapse.
This week we'll get to look at David, some of his crazy circumstances, and his type of responses.
It’s easy to only be thankful when we want to be. However, God deserves more.
David was a shepherd who became king. When King Saul had a troubled spirit, David came and played music for him, ending up as a main part of Saul’s life. Saul got jealous of David though, so he tried to kill him and even tried to hunt him down. This pushed David to pray for God’s mercy, but he also praised God. During his time on the run, David asked a man for help, but he refused. His wife Abigail though, supplied what she could. Even without receiving exactly what he wanted, David praised God. In becoming king, David sat in praise before God. He experienced the loss of sons, and even one of them trying to kill him. Through it all, David wrote prayers and songs about his gratefulness to God.
Five ways to be thankful like David are: One, speak of God’s greatness. David spent much of his life sharing about how amazing God is. We, too, should fill our speech with praise to God. Two, remember where to take refuge. David reminds us that we can go to God no matter what. He’s always there to care for us, just reach out. Three, humbly sit before God. David was shocked that God would bless him so much in making him king and, in return, focused on his lowliness in comparison to God. Pride limits gratitude, but being with God can help us push it away. Four, make praise part of our routine. David praised God for His love in the mornings. If we create a habit of praise in easy times, it’ll be a first reaction in the hard times. Five, realize that God’s love is everything we need. David wrote Psalm 63 while in a desert; yet, he wasn’t lacking, for he had God’s love. Even in need, we still have His love.
Here’s how not to be thankful in everything: Do it for yourself – Being grateful gives you joy, but it’s also important to praise God to bring Him honor and be a source of peace. Think that things are praiseworthy only if they’re the way you want them – Just because what God gives isn’t exactly what you wanted, doesn’t mean that it’s not something to praise Him about. Allow your past to make you bitter – Take the lessons you learned from your experiences, while giving over trauma and pride to God.
God's Guidance:
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV) – “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Samuel 16:23 (NIV) – “Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.”
1 Samuel 19:10 (HCSB) - "and Saul tried to pin David to the wall with the spear. As the spear struck the wall, David eluded Saul, ran away, and escaped that night."
Psalm 52:9 (NIV) – “For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people. And I will hope in your name, for your name is good.”
Psalm 54:6 (NIV) – “I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you; I will praise your name, Lord, for it is good.”
Psalm 57:5 (NIV) – “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.”
Psalm 59:16 (NIV) – “But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.”
1 Samuel 25:32 (NIV) – “David said to Abigail, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me.”
2 Samuel 7:18-19 (NIV) – “Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said: “Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant—and this decree, Sovereign Lord, is for a mere human!”
2 Samuel 12:19-20 (NIV) – “David noticed that his attendants were whispering among themselves, and he realized the child was dead. “Is the child dead?” he asked. “Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.” Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.”
Psalm 5:7 (NIV) – “But I, by your great love, can come into your house; in reverence I bow down toward your holy temple.”
Psalm 5:11 (NIV) – “But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.”
Psalms 18:1-2 (NIV) – “I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
Psalms 3:3-4 (NIV) – “But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain.”
Psalms 63:3-5 (NIV) – “Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.”
Psalms 30:4-5 (NIV) – “Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”
Psalm 51:15 (NIV) – “Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.”
Psalm 56:10 (NIV) – “In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise—”
Application:
1. Set a certain part of the day to be your praise and gratefulness time
2. Share on your socials seven things you’re thankful for, don’t forget to include what you’re grateful for about God
3. Memorize Psalms 63:3-5 and recite it in times of disappointment and need
Strength Point:
If we rely on God and spend time in His presence, He’ll give us all that we need to praise Him and have a grateful heart through all that we go through in life.
Reflection Question:
How's your holiday season going so far?
Prayer Prompt:
Hi Jesus! Thank You for my life and the different circumstances that come with it. I trust You as the Author of my story! I’m sorry for not embracing the season I’m in, praising You through it, or __. I know there is a reason for every part of this situation I’m in now and all of them that I’ll journey through in the future. Help me to never let what I’m experiencing here on earth to cause me to stop singing praises to You. I want to have a grateful heart and thankful spirit like David did, even in the hardest of times. Remind me to humbly spend moments throughout each day to thank You for the simple, big, and __ things. I pray that in living a life full of praise and thankfulness, joy would flow through me and flood out to the people around me, __, and in everything I do. I could never praise You enough or thank You enough, but I’ll try to give You all I can. Ultimately, I thank You for giving Your life up, so that I can have a relationship with You now and forever! I love You, my gracious God! In Jesus’ Name, I pray, amen.
A Prayer to Pray over Others:
Hi Jesus! Thank You for our lives and the different circumstances that come with them. I trust You as the Author of our stories! Help my friend to embrace the season they’re in or at least praise You through it. Reveal to them that there is a reason for every part of this situation they’re in now and all of them that they’ll journey through in the future. Help them to never let what their experiencing here on earth to cause them to stop singing praises to You. Create a desire in my friend to want to have a grateful heart and thankful spirit like David did, even in the hardest of times. Remind them to humbly spend moments throughout each day to thank You for both the simple and big things. I pray that in living a life full of praise and thankfulness, joy would flow through my friend and flood out to the people around them and in everything they do. We could never praise You enough or thank You enough, but we can try to give You all we can. Ultimately, thank You for giving Your life up, so that we can have a relationship with You now and forever! I love You, my gracious God! In Your Name, Jesus, I pray, amen.
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