From a message by Charles Stanley - The Reach of Our Thanksgiving.
A bountiful cornucopia of thankfulness spills forth in every situation as the naturally delicious and healthful fruit of a heart cultivated with three understandings:
1. God is absolutely in control and is the "causer" of everything.
Psa 103:19 The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all.
God engineers all our the things that happen to us in our lives. He designs people, complete with flaws, failings, selfishness and sin patterns, and strategically places them in our lives. He causes them to do the things that they do. All their apparently free-will choices are God manufactured implements in my life.
2. God is working for your good in everything He does.
Rom 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
God is using everything He causes to work for good in our lives. No matter how difficult, distasteful, humbling, irritating, overwhelming or devastating our circumstances, we can rejoice that God has given these things for our benefit. Everything He does is an expression of His love for us.
3. God is molding us and forming us into the likeness of Jesus.
Rom 8:29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son.
God is using everything not only for my good, but also for the ultimate purposes of growing and forming me so that I think, act, feel and believe like Jesus. This is what any of us would ultimately desire with all our hearts.
If we can understand these things, then it will be quite natural to have an attitude of thanksgiving in any circumstance or trial, or in dealing with any person or relationship.
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