Giving Thanks

After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.” 2 Chronicles 20:21

For many people, going into battle is a time of fear and trembling. No one really does not know if they are going to survive the battle or not. It is often dangerous in various ways. The level of fear increases if the enemy is larger and more powerful in appearance.

Going into battle against Ammon and Moab, Jehoshaphat had some men lead the army of Judah with singing of praises to God. They were giving thanks to God and proclaiming that His love lasts forever.

Battles are a part of life for every person. Most battles are not ones of physical fighting, as the army of Judah were fighting, but battles of the mind and soul.

The enemy of every person is the devil, who is out seeking whom he can kill and destroy. His number one focus is against believers, striving to get them to sin against God.

Often the devil looks very large and dangerous. It appears that there is no way to win the battle and that one will fail. Many will run away in fear or give into the desires of the world.

Instead of giving into the world and devil, believers need to turn their focus upon God and sing praise to Him as the march into the battlefield. When giving God praise, the believer is putting His trust in God and not focusing on how large and dangerous the enemy may be. God will give the victory, when He is given the praise and thanks.

The world is out to destroy you and turn you away from God. It is a battle for your soul. Going into battle may is never easy nor fun, but with God all things are possible.

Do not allow yourself to focus upon what the enemy looks like, but put your mind upon God. Give God praise for who He is. Give God thanks for what He has done in your past. Give God thanks for what He will do. Remember His great love for you. Then trust God to give you the victory over the enemy of your soul as you go into battle each day.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will continually sing praises to God; that you will give thanks to God; that you will know His great love for you; and that you will see God give victory over the enemy of your soul.

Rings of gold

Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, Psalm 50:14

Being thankful and fulfilling promises are two things that are not very common among most people. In today’s society, many people feel as if they are entitled to what they get. Often they feel as if they are entitled to more than what they get, so they are not very grateful for what they have.

Many will complain when things do not go their way or they do not get what they want, rather than being thankful for the blessings they already have.

Along with not being thankful, people will not fulfill their promises or vows. Promises are done in contracts, and then people try to use lawyers to claim that one of the parties broke the contract and so they no longer have to fulfill it.

Marriage vows are commonly broken every day all over the world. Relationships and divorce outside of marriage are common.

Asaph reminds the people to sacrifice, or offer, thank offerings to God and to fulfill their vows to Him.

Just as with the world, people inside the church often are not thankful or fulfilling their vows. As sacrificial thank offering is one thanks being given in a bad situation. Life is going horrible, yet one is thankful to God for being with him and bringing him through the situation.

In the church many people will make a promise to God, or when they are going through a bad situation one will make a promise to God if God gets him out of the situation. Yet, often, when the church service is over, or when the situation is cleared, the vow is forgotten.

God has never broken any of His promises. In the same way, believers should never break their promise. It is an example of God’s faithfulness to this world.

Take a moment to think about how grateful you are for what you do have. Do not dwell on what you do not have, but what God has already blessed you with. Now, sacrifice some thanks to God for what you have, even those bad situations in your life, which are there to build you and others in Jesus.

Also take a moment to think about the promises you have made, both to God and to people. Work on fulfilling each promise, just as God is fulfilling His promises to you.

God will work in and through you as you are thankful and faithful.

I pray today that you will know God’s faithfulness to you; that God will strengthen you to be faithful; that you will give thanks to God for everything in your life; and that you will fulfill every promise you make to people and God.