Thanksgiving In Loss

 

"When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously." (Daniel 6:10) 

When Daniel found out that the decree had been signed that anyone who worshiped any man or god, except for king Darius, for thirty days, would be cast into the lion's den; Daniel did something that is very significant. It says that he opened the windows in his upper chamber and prayed three times a day. What is significant, is that in the midst of this crisis, he gave thanks to God. How could he do this? He knew that if he got caught, it would mean his life. And it happened just as he thought. He did get caught, and was arrested. 

How do you give thanks to God during a crisis, or in dealing with a loss? I think of all the families who lost loved ones, because of the pandemic. How can they give thanks to God, for this loss? It is definitely a great test of one's faith. 

Daniel knew something that we all should get a grasp on: There is no guarantee that we won't experience suffering, or loss of some kind. 

It happens to all of us. This life is unpredictable, vulnerable, and temporary. The best thing we can do, is put our lives in the hands of God, like Daniel did. He will be with us in our den of lions. We can find peace in the midst of the lions of fear, discouragement and destruction. 

As we go through this life, we can know and experience the presence of God with us. He may not take us out of  our lion's den, but you can count on the fact, that He will be with us there. And if we if we die to this life, we will live eternally with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and our loved ones. This precious hope is the greatest gift God has ever given us. And Jesus brought it to us when He went to the cross to die for our sins. 

Even in the midst of this crisis, Daniel trusted in the Lord. We can be thankful in loss, because in the Lord we have hope! GP 

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Thinking Thankfully

"Offer to God thanksgiving, And pay your vows to the Most High. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” (Psalm 50:14-15) 

Have you ever heard someone say: 
"Hold it, let's back the truck up?" A new way of saying: "Let's take a moment, and rethink things." We need to stop and readjust our thinking on things. How many times have we been called to take a good look at our lives, and see the blessings instead of the burdens.

When we get caught up in grumbling and complaining, instead of giving thanks to God for our blessings, how does it make us feel? I would say that it just makes us feel more discouraged. Grumbling and complaining is a negative reaction, where giving thanks is of a positive one.

In our text, the Psalmist calls us to "offer to God thanksgiving" Let it be apart of our lifestyle, instead of an occasional response when it comes to mind. May it be an every moment, everyday action.

I don't believe that God expects us to give thanks for the trial, but we can give thanks for the fact that He will get us through the trial.
The Psalmist speaks for the Lord and says: "Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me." 

We can know for sure, that we always have someone we can call out to. And God will not only hear us, but He will deliver us. We can constantly be thinking thankfully, and be encouraged by this blessing, and much much more! GP

Photo: DigitizedImage / 5 images / CCO Creative Commons / Free for commercial use / No attribution required / www.pixabay.com