Attitude!

Attitude!

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV

Nowhere does God promise us clear skies and jolly good times for all the moments and days that He has given us, but He promises us His Presence, Power, Provision and Peace. Since these promises are backed up by the greatest power in the world, the one thing that is left to sort out then becomes my own response and reaction to the things already promised. 

I am told that IN everything, I should give thanks. Whatever it is that comes my way, and no matter how difficult and terrible it may seem, God says I should give thanks. I note that He is not asking me to assume that everything that happens is His perfect will, but as long as I am IN God, I have the clear assurance that I am where God wants me to be and He will bring me to the place He has prepared for me.

I am thanking God on the basis of personal relationship and a clear understanding of who I am and who I belong to. I am not thanking Him because I am afraid He will kill me or because it is just the smart thing to do, or because I have nothing else to do: I am thanking Him because I know that beyond my present experience lie a glory that outweighs these present realities. I acknowledge His wisdom and timing, and know that if He allows it, it's because He has measured it to bring out the best in me.

And that is the underlying fact behind God's will: nothing happens without his knowledge. I am not an accident, neither am I the product of careless thinking or planning. All that has or will happen are all part of his plan to bring me into perfection. So, I rejoice, NOT for the bitter experiences that have come, but for the better days that are ahead. I give thanks for the divine support available, sure and certain that God is on my side, and at the end of it all, it will end in praise. If I want to end well and make it all worth it, my highest pursuit must be the perfect will of God. His time of favour is here.