Suffice

“If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, ‘thank you,’ that would suffice.” (Meister Eckhart)

Life can be overwhelming at times. We can easily get discouraged, and burned out by circumstances that are beyond our control. In those seasons where we are feeling helpless, the best thing we can do is turn away from the challenges and turn toward God by living a life of thanks to Him. When we remember that God is in control of our lives, we keep in mind we have a loving Heavenly Father who gives us strength when we are weak, and comforts us in our times of need.

We love and serve a good, gracious Heavenly Father. We are undeserving of the love, grace, and mercy He freely lavishes on us. What else should we do, but live lives of endless thanks to Him in return for all our Heavenly Father has given us? God has given us so much to be grateful for. Look around you find all the wonderful things your Heavenly Father has done as a love gift just for you. In gratitude, for how we have been rescued from ourselves, God wants us to …

Treat our parents with honor

 ^“Honor your father and mother so that you’ll live a long time in the land that God, your God, is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12, MSG)

Children, obey your parents the way the Lord wants, because this is the right thing to do. The command says, “You must respect your father and mother.” This is the first command that has a promise with it.  And this is the promise: “Then all will go well with you, and you will have a long life on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:1-3, ERV)

Help others in need
“No murder.” (Exodus 20:13, MSG)

“You’re familiar with the command to the ancients, ‘Do not murder.’ I’m telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot!’ and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid!’ at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill. (Matthew 5:21-22, MSG)

Act in complete purity
“No adultery.” (Exodus 20:14, MSG)

^“ You may think you have abided by this Commandment, walked the straight and narrow, but I tell you this: any man who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery in his heart. “(Matthew 5:28, VOICE)

Negotiate fairly with others
^“No stealing.” (Exodus 20:15, MSG)

^“If you have been stealing, stop. Thieves must go to work like everyone else and work honestly with their hands so that they can share with anyone who has a need. “(Ephesians 4:28, VOICE)

Keep your whole testimony from evil
“No lies about your neighbor.”  (Exodus 20:16, MSG)

^“Don’t lie to each other. You have taken off those old clothes—the person you once were and the bad things you did then.” (Colossians 3:9, ERV)

Seize every evil desire
^“No lusting after your neighbor’s house—or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don’t set your heart on anything that is your neighbor’s.” (Exodus 20:17, MSG)

 ^“ Don’t be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you.” (Hebrews 13:5, MSG)

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
Because it means you’ve made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.[i]

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[i] Poem at end of post, “Be Thankful” by Author Unknown

 

 

Inspired by the sermon “ThanksLiving: Live THANKS” (installment three, final) Sunday November 25, 2018, Pastor Jon Fulton (of CenterPoint Westerville), CenterPoint Gahanna Church Gahanna, OH.

 

Additional source used:  “7 Prayers to Say "Thank You" to God Today” by Rachel Dawson