The Power of a Grateful Heart

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  Image by Freepik Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV) "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." Reflection: Gratitude is a powerful attitude that can transform our lives. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Paul encourages us to "give thanks in all circumstances." This doesn't mean we are thankful for every situation, especially the difficult ones, but it means finding reasons to be grateful even amidst our trials. Gratitude shifts our focus from what we lack to what we have. It helps us see God's hand in our lives and recognize His blessings, no matter how small. When we cultivate a grateful heart, we start to notice the everyday miracles and the ways God provides for us. Consider the story of Paul and Silas in Acts 16. While imprisoned, they chose to pray and sing hymns to God. Despite their dire circumstances, they found reasons to be grateful and praise God. Their gratitude not only sustained them but also led to a mira...

Gratitude and Purity


In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
—1 Thessalonians 5:18



Do you have an attitude of gratitude? We are told in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." God's will for us is to give thanks. Notice this verse doesn't say to give thanks only when things are going well. We are to give thanks no matter how things are going. It is having an attitude that recognizes that God is in control of all circumstances that surround our lives.
This means that we are submitting our will to the will of God, we are trusting that He is in control, and we are giving Him our praise in advance—even before we see an outcome to the problem we are facing.

I am not saying we should give thanks for our problems. But I am saying we should give thanks despite our problems, because God is in control, and He ultimately will sort it out. We have His Word on it. And in the interim, His will for us is to have an attitude of thanksgiving.

It is also God's will for us to live a pure life. We are told in 1 Thessalonians 4:3, "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality." What does "sanctification" mean? It is a word that speaks of holiness and consecration. So God is essentially saying, "I want you to be living a holy life. I want you to be sexually pure."

This means that if you are single, you don't have sex. And if you are married, it means that you don't have sex with anyone other than your spouse. Yet it's surprising how many people think they are the exception to this rule.

You can't discern the will of God if you are living an immoral lifestyle or are filled with worry and panic. It starts with obedience to God's revealed will.

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