If we pray without ceasing, we shall not want matter for thanksgiving in every thing. We shall see cause to give thanks for sparing and preventing, for common and uncommon, past and present, temporal and spiritual mercies. Not only for prosperous and pleasing, but also for afflicting providences, for chastisements and corrections; for God designs all for our good, though we at present see not how they tend to it. – Matthew Henry

Thankfulness, gratitude, and contentment all go hand in hand, and they ought to be the mark of every true believer in Jesus Christ. On the other hand, thanklessness, ingratitude, and discontent also go hand in hand they mark the unbeliever.

Thanksgiving Day is upon us, a day specifically set aside to give thanks to God. As Christians, we who are recipients of the grace and mercy of God, our lives ought to be characterized by thankfulness, gratitude and contentment.

While this is not always the case, our thanksgiving to God should be “wrapped up” in contentment. I believe this is what Paul is addressing here in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

To give thanks “in all circumstances” is in essence to be thankful and content in the sovereignty of God in whatever situation we find ourselves. This means giving thanks while resting in His goodness in all situations, knowing that while we may not understand it all, every situation we find ourselves in is for His glory and for our good. As Matthew Henry puts it:

“……Not only for prosperous and pleasing, but also for afflicting providences, for chastisements and corrections; for God designs all for our good, though we at present see not how they tend to it.”

Since the sovereign God designs all things for our good, not only are to be called to give thanks “in everything”, we are also called to give thanks “for everything”. This may come as a shock to some people as I have heard more than one sermon in my lifetime telling us the Bible tells us to give thanks “in everything”, but not “for everything”.

Well, the Bible does tell us to give thanks “for everything”.  Ephesians 5:20 –

“giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”. I never understood this scripture as a young believer, but over time, I have come to understand that this command to give thanks “for everything” is not based on my feelings about the situation or circumstances, but on the goodness and sovereignty of God.

This is not a command to feel thankful for the terrible things that happen to us, this is a command to give thanks with the Father and the son as the object of our thanksgiving. I love how Joni Eareckson Tada puts it  here “……We may not feel thankful for the terrible things that happen to us (and God is not asking us to feel thankful); but we are commanded to give thanks, always with the Father and the Son as our focus, always seeking His point of view, always looking at things from His heavenly perspective. For when we give thanks for everything in the name of Jesus, it really is asking us to look at the awful stuff from Jesus’ vantage point. And we can do that because EVERYTHING friend, EVERYTHING falls within the overarching decrees of God’s sovereignty.”

She goes on to say, “Ephesians 5:20, giving thanks for everything in the name of Jesus, well; it’s one of those “deep calls to deep” commands. In closing, I do thank God for my paralysis. I couldn’t have done that years ago.”

I think one of the reasons people struggle with Ephesians 5:20 is because we tend to equate giving of thanks to exuberant singing and jubilation. While this can sometimes be the case when we give thanks, a life of thanksgiving and gratitude is not always characterized by exuberant singing and jubilation. In such a case, giving thanks becomes a lifestyle, an attitude of mind. Here is part of Matthew Henry’s commentary on Ephesians 5:20:

“Though we are not always singing, we should be always giving thanks; we should never want disposition for this duty, as we never want matter for it, through the whole course of our lives. Always, even in trials and afflictions, and for all things; being satisfied of their loving intent, and good tendency.”

I say Amen to that! Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Soli Deo Gloria!

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. – Matthew 11:28-29

One of the things I look forward to in heaven is that fact that there will be no more sin.  We will completely and finally saved from the presence of sin.  I am so tired of sin.

I have a dear sister in Christ whose family have been going through some severe trials with two of their sons, It is one thing to have a son with mental health issues and quite another to have two sons with mental health issues.  To say their lives have been extremely stressful would be the understatement of the year.

While I cannot claim to understand all that she is going through, I can however be an instrument in the Redeemer’s hands to help her see that God has not forsaken her,  by praying for her, being a comfort to her and reminding her of the goodness of God in her life and circumstances even when it does not look that way. To this end, we scheduled and meet monthly over lunch to catch up, go through scripture  and pray.

Unrest is one great characteristic of the world. Hurry, vexation, failure, disappointment, stare us in the face on every side. But here is hope.  There is an ark of refuge for the weary, as truly as there was for Noah’s dove. There is rest in Christ, rest of conscience, and rest of heart, rest built on pardon of all sin, rest flowing from peace with God. – JC Ryle

I got a phone call from her on the day before our monthly lunch meeting letting me know she will not be able to make it as one of the sons had had an episode and had been admitted to the hospital. So, we prayed over the phone and I encouraged her with the word. The next day, I got another phone call from her letting me know that the second son has been missing for two days. He was on his way home at about 10pm two days before and never made it. While she was on the phone with me (6am), she was driving from street to street and from train track to train track looking for him. She and her husband were taking turns driving around looking for him, while the police was going around interviewing his friends.

My heart sank to the bottom of my stomach and all I could was cry out to the Lord in prayer. I could not imagine the horror they were going through not knowing. My husband and I began to pray for them.

“Go not,” He seems to say, “to man for relief. Wait not for help to arise from any other quarter. Just as you are, this very day, come to me.”   Mark what an encouraging account Jesus gives of Himself. He says, “I am gentle and lowly of heart.”  – JC Ryle

I am currently through the M’Cheyne Reading Plan for the year and part of today’s reading was Matthew 11.  Verse 28-29 of Matthew 11 are familiar verses and were very much needed today in light of what had transpired in the last two days.  Matthew 11:28-29 reads: Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

What a comfort!  JC Ryle’s commentary on these verses were also such a blessing:

Unrest is one great characteristic of the world. Hurry, vexation, failure, disappointment, stare us in the face on every side. But here is hope. There is an ark of refuge for the weary, as truly as there was for Noah’s dove. There is rest in Christ, rest of conscience, and rest of heart, rest built on pardon of all sin, rest flowing from peace with God. 

Mark what a simple request Jesus makes to the laboring and heavy-laden ones:

“Come to me — Take my yoke upon you, learn from me.” He interposes no hard conditions. He speaks nothing of works to be done first, and deservingness of His gifts to be established. He only asks us to come to Him just as we are, with all our sins, and to submit ourselves like little children to His teaching. 

“Go not,” He seems to say, “to man for relief. Wait not for help to arise from any other quarter. Just as you are, this very day, come to me.”   Mark what an encouraging account Jesus gives of Himself. He says, “I am gentle and lowly of heart.”  

Mark, lastly, the encouraging account that Jesus gives of His service. He says, “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” 

 No doubt there is a cross to be carried, if we follow Christ. No doubt there are trials to be endured, and battles to be fought. But the comforts of the Gospel far outweigh the cross. Compared to the service of the world and sin, compared to the yoke of Jewish ceremonies, and the bondage of human superstition, Christ’s service is in the highest sense easy and light.

 His yoke is no more a burden than the feathers are to a bird. His commandments are not grievous. His ways are ways of pleasantness, and all his paths are peace. (1 John 5:3. Prov. 3:17.)

 God is so good and knows how to send comfort to His children!  This morning before I wrote this bog article, I got a phone call from my friend letting me know that her missing son had contacted them by text and phone call.  While they had not yet seen him, it was a relief to know that he is still alive.  Please continue to pray for this dear sweet family.

Soli Deo Gloria!

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:13

Philippians 4:13 is one of the most popular verses in all of scripture.  People quote it all the time, and when they do, it is usually in the context of pushing through a difficult situation or as a means of motivating or inspiring individuals to greater achievement.

But is that what the verse really means? Is this verse about motivating a person to “be all they can be”?  Does this verse mean that if we really set our minds to it, we can do anything?  Is that what the Lord is telling us with this verse? Absolutely not!

Like all scripture in the Bible, context matters. In order to understand what Paul is saying here, you will  need to read the whole book.  However, to put this verse in context, we will need to read the two preceding verses – the means starting from verse 10.

 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me. – Phillippians 4:10-13

Paul is thanking the Philippians for the gift they sent him. He then proceeds to the tell them the while he was thankful for their gift, he was not really in need because he had learned the secret of being content.  He is content when he has much or when he has little, he is able to maintain a heart of contentment through Christ’s strength that is at work in him.

Philippians 4:13 is not about you being able to achieve whatever you set your mind to do. Rather, it is about the power of Christ at work in the life of Paul enabling him to find contentment in Christ. Christ is the focus of the verse, not you.

Soli Deo Gloria!

In all our self-examination let us not try ourselves by comparison with the standard of men. Let us look at nothing but the requirements of God. – JC Ryle

The act of prayer itself is a humbling experience. What is more humbling than coming to terms with the fact that you can’t help yourself?  Knowing this, we would expect all that come to God in prayer to come in humility, right?  But not so.  Some come arrogantly, demanding that God meet their needs on their own time and in their own way., some come pridefully, listing all their good deeds and accomplishments they have done “for God”.  But James reminds us that that God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).

Knowing this, why would any Christian come arrogantly to the presence of God, demanding their rights, or singing their own praises? Our hearts are deceitful. In Luke 18:9 Jesus tells the parable of the pharisee and the tax collector because: “some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt”. Whether we want to believe it or not, we are all naturally self-righteous. It is part of our fallen nature. We think we are better than we really are. We flatter ourselves that we are not as bad as the woman next door. We compare ourselves, with ourselves.  This self-righteous attitude affects how we approach God.

What should our posture be when we come to God in prayer? What type of prayer does God answer? We learn that in the parable of the pharisee and tax collector. In this parable, we learn first what kind of prayer God NOT answer.  A prayer like that of the pharisee. What was his prayer like?  His prayer was full of praises for himself, telling God what a wonderful man he was! Here is what he said to God in prayer: Luke 18: 11-12 – The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.

JC Ryle commenting on this prayer said this:

One great defect stands out on the face of this prayer — a defect so glaring that even a child might mark it. It exhibits no sense of sin and need.

It contains no confession and no petition — no acknowledgment of guilt and emptiness — no supplication for mercy and grace. It is a mere boasting recital of fancied merits, accompanied by an uncharitable reflection on a brother sinner. It is a proud, high-minded profession, destitute alike of penitence, humility, and charity.

In short, it hardly deserves to be called a prayer at all.

 No state of soul can be conceived so dangerous as that of the Pharisee. Never are men’s bodies in such desperate plight, as when disease and insensibility set in. Never are men’s hearts in such a hopeless condition, as when they are not sensible of their own sins.

He that would not make shipwreck on this rock, must beware of measuring himself by his neighbors. What does it signify that we are more moral than “other men?” We are all vile and imperfect in the sight of God. “If we contend with Him, we cannot answer him one in a thousand.” (Job 9:3.) Let us remember this. In all our self-examination let us not try ourselves by comparison with the standard of men. Let us look at nothing but the requirements of God. He that acts on this principle will never be a Pharisee.

Wow! Secondly, we learn about the kind of prayer God answers. This is a prayer that comes from a humble heart. One that comes with reverence and fear before the almighty God – the tax collector’s prayer.

I conclude with JC Ryle:

The excellence of the Tax collector’s prayer consists in five points, each of which deserves attention.

1. For one thing, it was a real petition. A prayer which only contains thanksgiving and profession, and asks nothing, is essentially defective. It may be suitable for an angel, but it is not suitable for a sinner.
2. For another thing, it was a direct personal prayer. The tax-collector did not speak of his neighbors, but himself. Vagueness and generality are the great defects of most men’s religion. To get out of “we,” and “our,” and “us,” into “I,” and “my,” and “me,” is a great step toward heaven.
3. For another thing, it was a humble prayer — a prayer which put self in the right place. The tax- collector confessed plainly that he was a sinner. This is the very “A B C” of saving Christianity. We never begin to be good until we can feel and say that we are bad.
4. For another thing, it was a prayer in which mercy was the chief thing desired, and faith in God’s covenant mercy, however weak, displayed. Mercy is the first thing we must ask for in the day we begin to pray. Mercy and grace must be the subject of our daily petitions at the throne of grace until the day we die.
5. Finally, the Tax-collector’s prayer was one which came from his heart. He was deeply moved in uttering it. He smote upon his breast, like one who felt more than be could express. Such prayers are the prayers which are God’s delight. A broken and a contrite heart He will not despise. (Psalm 51:17.)

Let these things sink down into our hearts. He that has learned to feel his sins has great reason to be thankful…….. One grace at least should adorn the poorest and most unlearned believer. That grace is humility.

 Soli Deo Gloria

Help me to honour thee by believing before I feel,
  for great is the sin if I make feeling a
    cause of faith.

Sometimes we fall into the trap of waiting to “feel” before we believe. What I mean by this is, the Bible tells us in so many areas that God loves us, cares for us and promises never to leave nor forsake us. However, when we run into situations that cause us to be anxious or afraid what do we do?  Instead of taking God at His word and believing & trusting His word even when we don’t feel like it, we wait to “feel happy” before we stop being anxious, we wait to feel strong and courageous or the situation changes before we stop being fearful.

The Lord calls us to trust and obey, even when we don’t feel like it.  Waiting for our feelings to lead our faith is unbelief, which is a sin. Some of us have sometimes fallen into this sin of being led by our feelings instead of walking by faith. We need to repent. I pray that this puritan prayer will help focus our minds and guide us in seeking forgiveness for the sin of waiting to “feel” before believing.

This prayer is titled “The Divine Will”. It can be found on page 14 of the book “The Valley of Vision”

O LORD,

I hang on thee; I see, believe, live,
when thy will, not mine, is done;
I can plead nothing in myself
in regard of any worthiness and grace,
in regard of thy providence and promises,
but only thy good pleasure.

If thy mercy make me poor and vile, blessed be thou!
Prayers arising from my needs are preparations for
future mercies;
Help me to honour thee by believing before I feel,
for great is the sin if I make feeling a
cause of faith.

Show me what sins hide thee from me
and eclipse thy love;
Help me to humble myself for past evils,
to be resolved to walk with more care,
For if I do not walk holily before thee,
how can I be assured of my salvation?

It is the meek and humble who are shown
thy covenant,
know thy will, are pardoned and healed,
who by faith depend and rest upon grace,
who are sanctified and quickened,
who evidence thy love.

Help me to pray in faith and so find thy will,
by leaning hard on thy rich free mercy,
by believing thou wilt give what thou hast
promised;

Strengthen me to pray with the conviction
that whatever I receive is thy gift,
so that I may pray until prayer be granted;
Teach me to believe that all degrees of mercy arise
from several degrees of prayer,
that when faith is begun it is imperfect and
must grow,
as chapped ground opens wider and wider
until rain comes.

So shall I wait thy will, pray for it to be done,
and by thy grace become fully obedient.

– Amen

Soli Deo Gloria!