Daily Devotions
November 22nd, 2011 by Pastor Solley1 Thessalonians 5:18-19 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19 Quench not the Spirit.
As I look back over the past year there are many things for which it seemed impossible to give thanks at the time. Yet we have this clear command in 1 Thess 5:18 “In every thing give thanks”. There have been trials, sickness, spiritual battles from within as well as without. As a Pastor one has to deal with things and sees things that others do not. People often question when they do not see all that is going on. Additions to the church that have been a blessing and things that have broken your heart. A year holds many things and not all of them good. Yet we have this clear command. “In every thing give thanks”. We must all understand that none one of us sees all that is going on. Not one of us sees the beginning from the end. Not one of us is able to look down the road months and years ahead. Only our God is able to do that. What we must do is put our faith and trust in Him for all things and fully believe that He and He alone does all things well. When we place all, and all means all, in His capable hands then and only then can we give thanks in all things. As I look back over the past year I must confess before Him and ask forgiveness for questioning Him at times in my mind as to what was going on around me. Now looking back I can see He was working to protect me, to help me, to encourage and lead me in the path that He wanted me to go. If not for the trials I may have walked my own way and not His. Is it not the same with all of us? Today let us begin to look back and thank Him for everything.