We are exploring the theme of gratitude in today's discussion, specifically focusing on the idea to fast from discontent and feast on gratitude. I share insights from our scriptures, including First Thessalonians 5:18 and Ephesians 5:20, highlighting the call to give thanks for all things, not just in our circumstances. This realization challenges us to trust in God's sovereignty, even during difficult times. I reflect on personal experiences and the broader context of our world, emphasizing that gratitude is a powerful testament to our faith. Join us as we delve into how embracing gratitude can transform our perspectives and deepen our relationship with God.
Takeaways:
The episode emphasizes the importance of gratitude, encouraging us to give thanks in all circumstances, even during tough times.
We learn that gratitude is not just about being thankful for good things, but recognizing God's sovereignty in all aspects of life.
The speaker shares personal realizations about biblical verses on gratitude, correcting a long-held misunderstanding about thankfulness.
Trusting God through difficult situations and expressing gratitude is a profound act of faith amidst life's challenges.
The discussion highlights how our perception of reality can be shaped positively by acknowledging God's presence in our struggles.
The podcast reminds us that God's ultimate control reassures us, allowing us to be thankful for everything.
Welcome to the Hobo Soul Podcast of Road Advice from the Bible and from me, Yvon Prehn, someone who's a little further down the road of life. I'll talk to you every Tuesday and Thursday for about 10 minutes.
And if you'd like more in depth information on walking with Jesus, you can find that@my bible805.com website. For now, let's get started on our topic for today, which is--
Episode number 40, Fast from discontent, Feast on gratitude, even in a time like this.
I have two verses to start our discussion today. The first one is First Thessalonians 5:18, where it says "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
And the second One is Ephesians 5:20, where it says, "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
We're at the start of a new series on exchanging attitudes in our lives that keep us from being the disciples Jesus wants us to be, and exchanging them for ones that better reflect who we ought to be as apprentices of Jesus. Now, these all come from the poem the Fasting Life.
And for a time in this podcast we'll be looking at the various exchanges, not necessarily in the order that they are in the poem.
And if you want a copy of the poem, it is available for you on the Bible805 website www.bible805.com. To begin today, I chose the exchange that encourages us to fast from discontent and feast on gratitude.
And in choosing that, I got a big surprise as I was researching it, as I realized that I was hugely wrong about something I taught for years, I mean big time wrong, and I want to correct it now. Okay, here's how it goes. I can't count how many times in the past I've quoted 1st Thessalonians 5:18 in everything give thanks.
And then I would go on to expound how the verse says "in" not "for" and how there are many things that we cannot thank God for, but we can always thank him in the situation because of his love, control, peace in the storm. And all of those things are very true.
But then when I was preparing this, I was looking up the verse to copy and paste in my script, and instead of 1st Thessalonians 5:18 coming up, Ephesians 5:20 comes up.
And it was one of those "I can't believe I missed this" moments where it says quite clearly in Ephesians 5:20, and by the way, I looked it up in the Greek. I looked it up in all the other translations. This was not a misquote, not just one translation. It actually says giving thanks always FOR all things.
It says we're supposed to thank God for all things. Oh my. Not just in. I had to pause a bit on that. Again, for all things, not just in.
If there is ever a time that that command is hard to obey, that time seems like now there's some pretty horrible things going on in our world today, and the constantly crazy threat of annihilation and, and all of these things that are happening, we're supposed to give thanks for that. And in addition to that, personal tragedies don't stop for world shattering events.
There have been sad and awful things in my life, and I know in the lives of many of you there have been and there are. Many of us are still in the middle of life transitions and challenges.
Many of us cry over things that have little to do with the tragic goings on in the world and everything to do with the pain in our hearts. And now it seems like we're supposed to be thankful for that. As I thought about it, prayed about it, here are some additional thoughts.
Now, obviously these are not final answers. I am, to be certain, not one to give definitive advice in this area.
But as I thought about it, it seems like to give thanks for all things, for all things is a witness to a far deeper trust and belief in the sovereignty and goodness of God than simply selecting what feels comfortable for me and my choice to be thankful for. It reminds me of in Romans where it says that all things work together for good. And Again, that's Romans 8:28.
But again, we so want to pick and choose what we label as good or not, what we think God should have done or not done.
But we aren't good judges of that because ultimately God is working out an eternal destiny for all of us and he's only given us tiny glimpses of what that might be on this side of eternity. We have no idea how certain events are the forges he uses to both shape us and reveal his character to the principalities and powers.
And speaking of the principalities and powers, how easy it is to forget the great spiritual war that is going on around us and how truly intense that battle is.
When we give thanks, though, for all things, we are seeing something that Satan and his demons cannot see, that God is at work, no matter what evil he allows. Satan may think he's derailed God's plans and devastated his people.
Satan may think he has destroyed God's people when he destroys their homes and hope and bodies, but the truly horrific actions of Satan, and they are vile and on one level meaningless and infused with great evil at the same time--they are ultimately the dying attacks of a defeated but cornered and vicious enemy.
It's then when we can see reality for what it is that we can shake our fists at the heavens and once again assert, I serve a good God and I will thank him for all things. Our trust and faith is not what the enemy expects and it hits him with another death blow.
When you think about it, it really isn't an act of faith to do that, to proclaim trust and thanks in God when things are going badly. That's really the only true perception of reality. All will truly turn out well.
To give thanks for all nudges us to a place of trust that goes far deeper than us deciding what is a good thing to thank God for and what isn'.
It forces us to see that God truly is in charge of everything and that the worst of the worst of the worst will never prevent that and will never prevent us from being brought safely home. Here we are, though, as our world careens from the brink of disaster and back again in a number of hours.
At the same time we can be thankful for for it all because of our God. And to remind us of that, I want to close with the words that our ultimate leader has it under control that we see in Psalm 46.
Just sit quietly, rest and listen to Psalm 46
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea, though the rivers thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. There is a river, the streams whereof make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High. God is in the midst of her.
She shall not be moved. God shall help her, and that right early the heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved. He uttered his voice. The earth melted.
The Lord of hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. Come, behold the works of the Lord. What desolations he has made in the earth.
He makes wars to cease unto the end of the earth. He breaketh a bow, and cutteth a spear in sunder. He burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the heathen. I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge, and for this, for all of this, we can be thankful.
That's all for this podcast, for transcripts, links to related material, and much more to help you learn to know, trust, apply and teach the Bible, go to www.bible805.com. For now, let me end with this benediction and prayer.
May you walk each day surrounded by the gracious love of the Father, guided by the gentle wisdom of the Holy Spirit, and conscious of the astoundingly real presence of Jesus, who will walk with you until you're no more a hobo soul, no more a transient, wandering heart, but at home in the kingdom prepared for you with your God forever. Amen.
