Enter into"); document.writeln("his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto"); document.writeln("him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and"); document.writeln("his truth endureth to all generations.1
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The Bible says,"); document.writeln("\'€œGive thanks in all circumstances; for this is God\'€™s will for you in Christ"); document.writeln("Jesus. \'€œ (1 Thessalonians 5:18). That may seem easy when life is going well."); document.writeln("But when it doesn\'€™t, expressing gratitude can be difficult.
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It is"); document.writeln("interesting to note that this instruction to give thanks to the Lord in all"); document.writeln("things was written by Paul, the apostle whose loyalty to Christ earned him"); document.writeln("severe persecution. You may wonder how he could be grateful. The answer is that"); document.writeln("Paul knew that his riches in Christ far outweighed any evil.
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Think of the"); document.writeln("blessings that he valued so much and that are available to all believers."); document.writeln("First, we are invited to relate to the one true God. Second, the Heavenly"); document.writeln("Father loves us with an eternal, unconditional love. Third, He sent His Son to"); document.writeln("die as payment for our sins so that we could spend eternity with Him.
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And the list of"); document.writeln("blessings goes on: God adopts believers as His children and seals them with His"); document.writeln("Spirit (Ephesians 4:30).
"); document.writeln("He promises to"); document.writeln("meet every need through his unlimited resources (Philippians 4:19) and provides"); document.writeln("his Word and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit to guide us.
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No wonder Paul"); document.writeln("was grateful!
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Suggested"); document.writeln("Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, today I come before you with a grateful heart."); document.writeln("Lord, help me to focus on all the blessings You give me every day. When I am"); document.writeln("tempted to complain, help me to remember the death of Your Son Jesus on the"); document.writeln("cross and that because of that I have salvation and eternal life. Beloved"); document.writeln("Father, help me to remember the privilege I have to be Your daughter and what a"); document.writeln("great blessing it is to have a personal relationship with You. Lord, You are"); document.writeln("good and Your mercy endures forever. Thank you, in Jesus\'€™ name, Amen.
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1. "); document.writeln("Psalm"); document.writeln("100:4-5 (KJV).
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Today\'€™s Encounter"); document.writeln("was written by: Rosina N.
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This and other devotionals by Richard (Dick) Innes can be read online.
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