In Battles/Giving Thanks

Scripture warns us not “mull over” negative thoughts about other people, and especially not to speak these thoughts out loud.
* “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification…that it may give grace to those who hear.”
Ephesians 4:29
* Take Action to remove influences in our lives that encourage the areas of the old heart. Instead, seek activities and friends that allow and encourage us to consume God’s word and put the Holy Spirit Inspired Word into Action.

Giving Thanks is an Effective Spiritual Weapon.

2 Chronicles 20:1-30 is a remarkable story which reveals the spiritual power of practicing gratitude in the midst of the worst possible situation.
*As this great king(Jehoshaphat) humbled himself before God, He watched God show up with His great incredible power to destroy the enemy that was at hand.

By the way, don’t forget to remind the devil “No weapon formed against you is going to prosper,” remind him that “greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world,” remind him that “I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me,” remind him that ‘if God be for us who can be against us”

God is no respector of persons, yes there are real battles that we face today with our health, our home, our kids, our jobs, our money matters, our ministries.

Verse 15….. Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

God says we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against the rulers of the darkness of this world.

Verse 20….Jehoshaphat stopped and said, “Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed.”

Never forget, what God has started in you, He is big enough to complete it.
*Give thanks to the Lord his love endures forever…

**What these passages reveal about the act of giving Thanks!
Psalms 118:17,19–Giving thanks turns our focus from Self to the Lord’s Greatness and Love.

1 Timothy 2:1-4–Giving thanks opens our eyes to see the world and people from God’s point of view.

Psalms 30:11-12–Giving thanks strengthens the spirit.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5–Giving thanks destroys the power of satan’s deceptions and keeps him from getting a foothold in our life.

Philippians 4:6-8–Giving thanks clears our minds to hear God’s voice and empowers us to act on what He says through His word.

Acts 16: 22-34–Giving thanks bears witness to God’s Glory and draws others to see who He is.

We should express our gratitude constantly, in our speech and through our Actions!
Psalms 92:1 It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to the Most High.
*Thanksgiving is appreciation for something good done for us.  *Thanksgiving is appreciating God for His good works in our life.

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High. (Psalm 50:14).

What does God want from us? He does not want mere hymn singing, although that is fine. Nor does He want only prayer, although that too is fine. He does not simply want our attendance, although that is fine.
What God wants, first, is a Thankful Heart!!!!
* That is what He seeks, a thankful heart. Each one of us is to offer to Him the sacrifice of thanksgiving.
* A sacrifice is something into which we put effort; it costs us.

Have you ever asked yourself why the Scriptures stress thanksgiving so much? *Both the Old and New Testaments emphasize that above everything else, God wants thankfulness.

“Give thanks in all circumstances,” says the apostle Paul, “for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Why is this?
* It is because thanksgiving only comes as a result of having Received something.
*You do not give thanks until you have Received something that comes from someone else.
* Therefore thanksgiving is the proper expression of Christianity, because Christianity is receiving something constantly from God.

**For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him (Psalm 95:3-4).
*The psalmist is giving the basic reasons everyone should give thanksgiving and praise to God. They apply not only to believers but also to all people. Each person has a responsibility to praise God, for all are creatures of His hands.

There are adjustments to be made if you will live and walk in the Spirit.  Watch for and discern those things that remove you from the Lord’s presence.  For, there are thoughts, motives, and actions that need to be overcome and abandoned for the sake of peace and eternal benefit.  The enemy of your soul continues to watch for opportunities to destroy you.
God wants us, all of us, forever. His love for mankind is so full and rich and complete that there is not a single human being that He doesn’t want to have with Him for all of eternity. We are all chosen and called by Him. This is a time when you should make Your call and election sure.  Being a disciple of Jesus isn’t a passive thing, it is an active thing. It’s a Relationship.
2 Peter 1:5-11  But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.  For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.  Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election(God chosen) sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;  for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Lord we give You thanks for All Your Blessings You have Given us. BUT most of all we give Thanks for the Gift of Life–both on earth and in eternity.  We give You Thanks each hour for Delivering us from the power of Sin through Jesus’ death and resurrection.
It is good to give thanks to You Lord!
Thank You for Your Holy Spirit inspired word, the Bible.
When you want:
To find comfort…………………..