Thanksliving

Meditation
1 Chronicles 16:8--Give thanks to Yahweh; call on His name; proclaim His deeds among the peoples.
Psalm 28:7--The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart rejoices, and I praise Him with my song.
Psa.30:12b--Lord my God, I will praise You forever.
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Philippians 4:4,11,12--Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!. . . I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.  I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.
Colossians 2:6,7--Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him,  rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, overflowing with gratitude.
Col. 3:15--And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful.
1 Thessalonians 5:18--Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 12:28--Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us hold on to grace. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe.
 
Two men in the Bible particularly strike me as thankful—David and Paul.  Both of them were well acquainted with suffering, tragedy and persecution yet both maintained a remarkable attitude of thanksgiving.  They possessed and operated by a philosophy I call thanksliving!  
Thanksliving is:
1. An attitude rooted and anchored by faith in God. 
2. Contagious proclamation.  One cannot help but tell people about God Who is the true source of joy.
3. Permanent.  No circumstance or condition can defeat it—ever.  Even in the midst of deep sorrow, pain and affliction thanksliving is both possible and appropriate.  
4. Centered, rooted, fed and focused on Christ Jesus.  Without Him it is impossible to attain.
5.  A mindset of contentment and peace regardless of external circumstances.
6.  An obedient response to the will of God that becomes a glory offering.
7.  Hopeful—one day we receive a kingdom that cannot be shaken!
Thanksgiving is a holiday set aside to remind us that we should be grateful for God’s provisions.  Thanksliving is a daily state that marks us as children of an awesome Father. Something to think about . . . in reveration!  
 
Inspiration
"Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others".—Cicero
"No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks."—Saint Ambrose
 
©2006 Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)