Thanks Living: Always—Not "A Sometime"

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, to the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever. Psalm 30:11, 12

To the end that: purpose, on account of as a motive or an aim, intent

My glory: of the seat of honor in the inner man, the noblest part of man

Sing praise: to celebrate in song and music

Not be silent: be or grow dumb, silent, hold peace, quiet self

Give thanks: literally, to use (i.e. hold out) the hand; physically, especially to revere or worship (with extended hands—the open one—indicating power, means, direction, etc.)

Forever: indefinite futurity, with preposition for ever, always (sometimes = during the lifetime)

Forever. Indefinite futurity. 

When does forever start? Tomorrow? Next week? Next year? Actually—now. 

Thanks Living isn't about thanking and praising God SOMETIME in the future. Rather it's about thanking and praising God starting now and CONTINUING in the future. Thanks Living to be an "always", not "a sometime". 

Are we waiting for some big, grand moment or circumstance for which we can thank God? What about the "small" everyday happenings? Aren't they thanks- and praise-worthy? 

Forever. Indefinite futurity.

Since Thanks Living is to be an "always" and not "a sometime", then it's time to make sure that I am purposeful and intent on giving thanks to God. Celebrate, rather than being silent, how awesome God is and the wonderful things He does each and every day. 

Always—not "a sometime". Forever begins right now!  

Thanks Living: Was His Custom

So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”

So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever! All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. Daniel 6:4-10

As was his custom since early days. 

Just as he always had.

He continued to do what he always did.

Often we wait until we get into trouble before we start praying. Daniel knew the importance of the prayer even when there was no trouble. Creating habits and practicing praise and thanksgiving to God in the good times, will insure us of praising and thanking God in the "bad times".  Our situation should not change our praise and thanksgiving! We are not praising and thanking God for "stuff", rather because of Who He is! Our situation does not change Who God is! 

As was his custom, he always had, always did. 

Thanks Living is about creating a habit of thanking God for Who He is and all that He provides. Thanks Living is to be a habit — no matter the situation! In order to insure that Thanks Living is a habit, it must be practiced on a daily (and even multiple times daily). 

As was his custom—I want Thanks Living to be what I always did, so that I can always do it in the future! 

Thankful — Continuously

  If you are looking for the posts about

God's Amazing Blessing

Announcement—I'm moving!

here's the link to the first Part: 

http://createapositiveday.blogspot.com/2015/05/announcement-part-1-im-moving.html

Then follow the arrows at the bottom of each post to the next Part.

There are 10 parts in all.

I recommend that you read each part, there are amazing details—

and God took care of each and every one! 

______________________________________________

This post is the continuation of my Study of Colossians.  

And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always]. Colossians 3:15 (AMP)

"Keep on becoming thankful." Continuous obligation.
Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

And be ye thankful: for all spiritual blessings in Christ, and particularly the peace he gives; and to Christ, for all those graces which come from him, and strength to exercise them, and for himself, and an interest in him, who is all in all; and a grateful spirit, both for spiritual and temporal mercies, is a very becoming and beautiful one, and is another part of the ornament of a Christian: this last is added to make way for what follows. 

John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Be appreciative—thankful—ALWAYS. Not just a one time afterthought, "Oh, by the way, thanks." No, rather it is a sense of gratefulness for Who God is, and the peace He supplies. And yes, for the blessings and gifts He sends too. Continuous obligation. 

Thankful. Am I truly thankful — continuously — for Who God is? Am I truly thankful — continuously — for what God has done and is doing for me? Am I truly thankful — continuously — for the peace that God provides? 

A result of thankfulness is praising God. Thankfulness should result in:

Singing God-songs at the top of my lungs, telling God-stories. (Psalm 26:7 MSG)

In order to be thankful — continuously to God, my heart must be permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31; MSG).

Always Accessible

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 11. Here is what I learned.

The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven. His eyes behold; His eyelids test and prove the children of men. Psalm 11:4 (AMP)

But the Eternal has not moved; He remains in His holy temple. He sits squarely on His heavenly throne. He observes the sons of Adam and daughters of Eve, examining us within and without, exploring every fiber of our beings. Psalm 11:4 (VOICE)

But the Lord is still in his holy temple; he still rules from heaven. He closely watches everything that happens here on earth. Psalm 11:4 (TLB)

The Lord is in his holy temple - Hebrew, "Jehovah is in the temple of his holiness." That is, he is in heaven, regarded as his temple or dwelling-place. This is the answer of the psalmist to the suggestions of his advisers that he should flee from danger. The answer is, in substance, that he had nothing to fear; that he had a protector in heaven; and that he might appeal to Him for defense. The idea is, that God, the protector of the righteous, is always in the heavens; that his throne is always accessible; and that to it the persecuted may come, and may always be safe.

The Lord's throne is in heaven - God is a king, ruling the universe. As such, the seat of his power or dominion is represented as in heaven, where he administers his government. That throne is fixed, and the affairs of his universe will be administered with justice. The righteous, therefore, may hope in his protection, and need not flee when the wicked assail them. The idea here is that of unwavering confidence in God as sitting upon the throne of the universe, and administering its affairs with justice and truth. Barnes' Notes on the Bible 

“The idea is, that God, the protector of the righteous, is always in the heavens; that his throne is always accessible; and that to it the persecuted may come, and may always be safe.” 

That sentence is an awesome ponder morsel for today! WOW!

To create a positive day, it’s all about remembering that God is always in the heavens, He’s always accessible and no matter what happens, I’ll be safe!