The Secret to Thanksgiving

Why not want. She can have a couple of chicken maybe it's not the get for your family but it is the perfect gift for poor family ninja chicken can break the cycle of poverty for poor family yes chicken chickens and provide nourishment for family and they can sell those exit the market for income when you donate a chicken or any other gospel for Asian 1% of what you give goes to the field and get the ball went gospel fundraiser to support family of Jesus family this Christmas and give them six explanation see chickens and camping. This is Mike Swick from if not for God podcast our show stories of hopelessness turned and I hope your chosen Truth Network podcast is starting to just seconds. Enjoy it Sharon but most of all, thank you for listening and for choosing The Truth Podcast Network.

This is the Truth Network encouraging prayer, God offers open imitation for his people to talk with him anytime about anything urgent prayer. Dr. James Banks of the selling and many other books on prayer provides weekly insight help you learn to mom and now so Thanksgiving is coming up and the question is are you ready for thankful 20/20 has been a tough year for a lot of us between covert, 19 a number folks having lost their loved ones and just horribly lost work and it's been a massive election-year. Still, we need to talk about this so you know it's great time to ask ourselves are asked me for rubbing it in my thankful James.

Good question Robin and we really can't brush it off too quickly.

I know it's what were supposed to do at this time of year, but you know the truth is, if you're not thankful you're not really happy.

So we need to pause for a moment and think about it, because God's word encourages us that we always have something to be thankful for some kind of happy classy thing where we say it because we think we have to, but inside were miserable, very different from that that's arrived and is challenging. Scripture tells us that in first Thessalonians 1st Thessalonians 516 through 18.

Rejoice always pray continually give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus, that can be really hard and it's really it's something we have to grow into isn't you think about just praying continually struggle with the think it's so important to keep in mind that what this is really about is genuine happiness, and in all the verses here really tied together so let's look at it this way can you boil your life down to one thing here, always thankful that no matter what happens you have that one thing if you could do that. What would it be would say my house for a happy family over money in the bank.

I have a feeling that is the answer you're looking for. Or maybe it's the direction it's a little like the pastor big white key detail in height winter and Johnny respond after it sure sounds like a squirrel but it must be Jesus. That said, I know you're doing this just like Johnny and I'm glad you are really have to do with anything we have in this world any of the things we just mentioned can be taken away in a heartbeat, Jesus remain the great thing about this verse is in first the felonious Paul wrap them up with this.

This is God's will for you in Christ Jesus you think about that God wouldn't require data that would be his will for us if it were impossible heard it said that what God requires. He also inspires the simple truth here is that you we focus on Jesus.

That's where that verse is taking us will find we can be truly thankful to see what you mean about the process of tying them together with our hearts set on him. Rejoice.

This is when living in the moment with him. I mean, in his presence is fullness of joy right were going to be thankful.

But here's the thing. This isn't some kind of okay, I'll count my blessings. Think you know that is not always especially on a difficult day, but you can say I love you Jesus and I'm so glad you were with me and say it and mean it learn how to genuinely rest in his presence regardless of your circumstances then you will be truly thankful that the secret to thankfulness is found in in what we have found in him and that's why he said the things he did like peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give the world gives do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid. That's what he told us you know I'm with you always.

All of never leave you. These are the kinds of things as we think about our lives and try to boil them down to that simple relationship.

It makes a difference really is so simple that it's completely what this means that if you want to have thankful hearts. Essentially, don't think of what think of who and then go to him first.

Seek the giver behind every gift. Go to him be with him in and out of that genuine thankfulness will flow that you don't have to force it just comes from from being with him leaning in him. It's amazing difference that that really makes the difference. He makes sense you're describing that account.

My heart, went to while cannot even begin to imagine what 20/20 would be like without him in the hopelessness that I would be the place that I would be right now without my heart cries out for those people are trying to face all this without him. It's unbelievable but yeah I think that's one of the best questions we can ask Rob where would I be without Jesus and in the more we this is a good war that growing into the scones and of the more we dwell on what we dwell on him. He he pulls us closer and truly helps us in this so again it's not forced it's something that happens naturally as we go to him just one find you've really helped my Thanksgiving that I could actually be Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving. Well it pray about that for all of Shelley yes father help truly be thankful for you. You are our hearts that are in and in you. Everything that we are in you.

We live and move and have our being. That's what you were special. Lord help us to love leaning thankful for you moment by moment. Thank you for your help inspire us to be here more from Pastor James by visiting the website James Banks.org or by visiting these church in Durham, North Carolina. May God bless you and encourage you as you pray. This is the Truth Network