This week I have been posting excerpts from my book, First of All, Pray<\/i>. Paul urged in 1 Timothy 2 that the people of God top their to-do list with praying for others. Thanksgiving is included in that list of \u201cfirst of all\u201d ways to pray.<\/p>\n
Excerpt from Chapter 1<\/b>:<\/p>\n
A Warning Concerning Thanklessness<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cIt is absolutely essential that you maintain an attitude of thankfulness. Romans 1:21-23 delivers a clear warn\u00ading: \u2018For even though they knew <\/b>God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks<\/b><\/i> but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incor\u00adruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling crea\u00adtures\u2019 <\/i>(emphasis added).<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is the outcome if you believe in God yet neglect to give thanks to Him? You gravitate toward anything except <\/i>Him! You become futile in your speculations and your heart becomes darkened. Without realizing it, you start worshiping material things and slide into folly. The Word says you become good for nothing, self-serving, and ignorant of your own dangerous stupidity. On the other hand, when you cultivate a thankful heart, you protect yourself from falling into the foolishness of self-absorption and delusion. Indeed, gratefulness sur\u00adrounds you with a deception-resistant shield.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe challenge in 1 Timothy 2:1 is to offer thanksgiv\u00ading to God even when you are praying for someone with whom you have fundamental disagreement. If you in\u00adcorporate thanksgiving into all of your prayers, then the grace of God will meet and overtake you in your endeav\u00adors. Thanksgiving: don\u2019t let yourself pray without it!\u201d (Excerpt taken\u00a0from pages 23-24; First of All, Pray: Prescription for a Nation in Crisis;\u00a0<\/em>\u00a9 2013\u2013Dorothy Frick)<\/p>\n This Thanksgiving and throughout the Christmas season, I challenge you to be aware of the flow of your heart, your mind, and your mouth. Despite the circumstances, the stress, the conflict, the disappointment, or any general sense of heaviness or oppression you may be encountering, make it your cause to give thanks to God. Give thanks for all that is good in your life\u2014make it your daily holiday habit\u2014and give thanks in spite of<\/i> all the \u201cstuff\u201d that may be piling up and weighing you down. Give thanks for<\/em> the good; give thanks despite<\/em> the bad.<\/p>\n As a former eighth grade teacher who taught the scientific method to her science-fair weary students, I learned the value of testing hypotheses against variables. Here is your two-fold assignment from now until the New Year:<\/p>\n Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.<\/i> Psalm 19:14<\/p>\n Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.<\/i> 1 Timothy 1:17<\/p>\n Happy Turkey Day, and may your thanksgiving to the Lord be glorious! See you on Monday, December 2, when I return by the grace of God to the First of All, Pray<\/i> blog.<\/p>\n Dorothy <\/p>\n\n