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! 

Rejoice

[Even] now I rejoice in the midst of my sufferings on your behalf. And in my own person I am making up whatever is still lacking and remains to be completed [on our part] of Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of His body, which is the church. Colossians 1:24 (AMP)

Rejoice in the midst of my sufferings.

As we read the Apostle Paul's writings, we know that he suffered much. Paul is writing Colossians from prison. We know from Acts 16:25 that even while in Prison, Paul was rejoicing:

"But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the [other] prisoners were listening to them" (AMP). 

Rejoice. 

Lately, God has been blessing me abundantly, so it's been easy to rejoice. When things are going well, we have no problem being happy and singing. 

But when things don't go as we had planned, or it gets hard, or "bad things" happen—then it is MUCH harder to rejoice. 

But rejoicing isn't to be based on circumstances

or how we feel, or if we are happy.

Rejoicing is to be based on

WHO we know—God Almighty! 

God—does not change. God loves us. We may not "feel loved" or understand why we must go through situations or endure pain, but that DOES NOT change the FACT that God is God. 

"Oh, you are just saying to rejoice because things are going well for you." 

Even though God is blessing me, I still live in chronic pain and have a chronic headache. Life is "not easy" for me. But in the midst of my suffering, I know that God in His grace and mercy has a plan to accomplish His purpose. I may not understand the 'whys', but I know that I can trust God. 

Rejoice. 

How do I rejoice during the good times and bad times? It begins with being permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31; MSG). For when I know that God is working, and He is in control and He loves me—then I can rejoice because of HIM! 

Not Just on the Difficult Days

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 111. Here is what I learned.

He has declared and shown to His people the power of His works in giving them the heritage of the nations [of Canaan]. Psalm 111:6 (AMP)

He has ·shown [proclaimed to] his people ·his power [the power/strength of his deeds] when he gave them the ·lands [inheritance] of other nations [the conquest]. Psalm 111:6 (EXB)

"He hath shewed his people the power of his works." They have seen what he is able to do and what force he is prepared to put forth on their behalf. This power Israel saw in physical works, and we in spiritual wonders, for we behold the matchless energy of the Holy Ghost and feel it in our own souls. 

In times of dire distress the Lord has put forth such energy of grace that we have been astonished at his power; and this was part of his intent in bringing us into such conditions that he might reveal to us the arm of his strength. 

Could we ever have known it so well if we had not been in pressing need of his help? We may well turn this verse into a prayer and ask to see more and more the power of the Lord at work among us in these latter days. O Lord, let us now see how mightily thou canst work in the saving of sinners and in preserving and delivering thine own people. "That he may give them the heritage of the heathen." He put forth all his power to drive out the Canaanites and bring in his people. Even thus may it please his infinite wisdom to give to his church the heathen for her inheritance in the name of Jesus. Nothing but great power can effect this, but it will surely be accomplished in due season. The Treasury of David

It’s easy to ignore what God is really doing during the “good times”. When we are accomplishing things “on our own”. However, as soon as we hit a difficult spot, we quickly turn to God to rescue us. We turn God into our “bail bondsman”. We want God to rescues us from our trouble, and too often once we are “free” from our difficulties, we quickly forget what God did. 

Yes, God is there in times of distress, but God is also present during the great times. God shows His power and strength on a daily basis—am I noticing what God is doing? 

To create a positive day, I need to notice God’s power and His amazing works—each and every day, and not just on the difficult days.