WFW: Thankfulness

Lately, things have been very busy at my place... it is during these times that the stress is hectic. I have discovered that when I feel this way, listening to the Bible has a calming effect on me. No, the problems don't disappear, but the Bible helps to change my perspective on things and focus on God and His Word. It reminds me of the Scripture which states, "His Word is life to those who find it, and health to all their flesh." The other day, as I was listening to the Scriptures, I heard a Scripture that I wanted to share for this week's Word For Wednesday... Romans 1:21 "...because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened." This Scripture is specifically talking about those who reject God, but I found a few things interesting about this verse. First, when we are all "strung out," it can be easy to forget about God. We don't do it intentionally, but it happens; we focus more on the events of the day instead of focusing on God. The portion of this passage which particularly struck me was that these people did not glorify God and they were not thankful. I believe that the version of the Bible that I was listening to said something like, "They did not glorify Him as God nor thank Him for being God." It made me think... do we thank God just for being God, especially during the hectic times? The Bible speaks of giving thanks to the Lord in numerous passages, such as the following: Psalms 107:1-22 "Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy, And gathered out of the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; They found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, Their soul fainted in them. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He delivered them out of their distresses. And He led them forth by the right way, That they might go to a city for a dwelling place. Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness. Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, Bound in affliction and irons- Because they rebelled against the words of God, And despised the counsel of the Most High, Therefore He brought down their heart with labor; They fell down, and there was none to help. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And broke their chains in pieces. Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He has broken the gates of bronze, And cut the bars of iron in two. Fools, because of their transgression, And because of their iniquities, were afflicted. Their soul abhorred all manner of food, And they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions. Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare His works with rejoicing...." Notice that throughout this passage, it speaks of SAYING SO; giving thanks to the Lord is simply declaring His wonderful works which He has done and thanking Him for it -- in the good times, and in the bad times! Psalms 31:19 "Oh, how great is Your goodness, Which You have laid up for those who fear You, Which You have prepared for those who trust in You In the presence of the sons of men!"