How would you answer this question: If you awoke this morning and all you had were the things for which you had thanked God the previous night, what would you have?
Even seasoned prayer warriors might be ashamed of their answer. The truth be known the overwhelming majority of prayers are of the nature of gimme, gimme, gimme, instead of thank you, thank you, thank you.
I heard a speaker the other day who told a story about a man from the Sudan in darkest Africa. He could not get over the fact that Americans ask for things when they pray. He slowly shook his head in disbelief and remarked what could you possible ask for?
I was having a little pity party for myself not long ago when my schedule was jam packed and I was driving and flying all over the country going to speaking engagements and meetings from early in the morning to late at night. I was sick and tired of staying in hotels and eating crummy restaurant food and my lower back hurt from all the riding. Then I thought of all the trials I have been through with various surgeries, chemo, wrecking my car, and so forth and it was very sad and I was really feeling quite sorry for myself.
Then I thought of Jesus and the disciples walking everywhere on dusty roads in the hot sun or freezing cold. They didn’t ride in an air-conditioned car. They snapped off heads of grain to eat, didn’t have indoor plumbing, health care, or nice comfortable beds with fluffy pillows. They didn’t have pure clean running water much less Dasani. I also thought of Paul being imprisoned, ship wrecked, beaten, scourged, stoned, bitten by a poisonous snake, and so on.
Yesterday I spoke with a dear friend who leads one of the largest prayer organizations in the world. I was astounded at his positive cheerful attitude. He is currently undergoing treatment for a very aggressive form of stage 4 lymphoma and enduring week long 24/7 chemo treatments in the hospital. I’ve never heard of a chemo regimen that horrific and yet he remains so joyful and thankful.
I told him he is truly living James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Paul instructed the Thessalonian believers to, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” This Bible verse like the previous is clear: It’s God’s will that we be continually thankful. However, Paul is not telling believers to be thankful for everything (like bad things that happen to us), but to be thankful IN everything. As mentioned Paul knew this firsthand; he wrote much of the New Testament from a prison cell. He meant that no matter the circumstances, we can always find something for which to be thankful. Even in the toughest times, if we will choose gratitude, we will come out on top.
Hmmm . . . I am humbled and ashamed of my attitude. The next time I pray I will think long and hard about what God has done for me. Trust me it will begin with thank you, thank you, thank you. How about you?
Romans 7:25
“Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
Have a great weekend and to Honey Lake Church this weekend. There will be a very special program put on by Evans Memorial Camp which is a Christ centered ten month regeneration program for men eighteen years and older that are desperate to overcome drug and alcohol addiction. We’ll hear their stories and enjoy some of their musical talents. You will enjoy it very much . . . It starts at 11 a.m.
March 31 2017 – Click here to listen