In All Things Give Thanks

November 24, 2009

by John Imler
John is an RVchurchesUSA Ambassor and author of It’s Never Too Late

thankful

Recently I felt the urge to call a caregiver who had been assisting friends of ours. My goal was to say, “Thank you for caring for my friends.” The husband had been confined to a wheelchair for some time and this lady has been going every day to assist his elderly wife in caring for him.

My friend had been moved to a convalescent home after having his leg amputated below the knee. He is on dialysis three times a week. Yet this lady continued to assist the wife and visit the husband in the convalescent facility. A special bond of love had developed between my friend and the caregiver.

I was amazed when later I learned the caregiver told my friend’s wife it was the first time anyone ever thanked her for doing what she did. I was surprised. “Was this the first time she had ever done things like this for other people?” My answer was a big no. This lady was one of life’s givers rather than just being a taker.

I recalled an email I recently received about heaven. As the story went, the room where the prayer requests were handled was overloaded with work even though there were scores of employees. However, the room that received the thank you messages had only one working and he was reading a book.

God called my attention to 1 Thessalonians 5:18  “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Paul admonishes us to “always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20).

I believe that God speaks to us through the circumstances He brings into our lives. But we need to be aware of His efforts to do so. He had used this circumstance to remind me of His Word, calling on me to be more prayerful and more thankful—thankful to Him but also to His servants who are doing His work.

“This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:12-15).

May each of us not only be faithful in our prayers of asking God for His many blessings and promises, but also in our prayers of thanksgiving when He has been faithful in answering our prayers.

John welcomes your comments either below or email him directly at john@faithrescued.com

Posted by RVchurchesUSA | Filed Under Spiritual Growth, Uncategorized 

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