Online devotionals written by PK's 4PKS!

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Give Thanks

With this being the season of 'Thanksgiving' I thought it would be appropriate to share a verse that challenges us to give thanks.

Read:  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18  

The Apostle Paul gives us quite a challenging directive in these three short verses.  "Joyful always ... Praying continually ... and Giving thanks in all circumstances!"  It seems almost impossible to measure up to this standard, and as PK's we know a lot about having to measure up to everyone's standards.

There are many expectations that are placed on PK's, and some of them are pretty unrealistic, but more than measuring up to __________'s (fill in the blank) expectations ... we've got to ask ourselves if we're measuring up to God's expectations.

It's hard to be joyful when your parent's are under enormous pressure because of things happening at church.  It's hard to pray continually when your mind is bombarded with school, church, family, and the normal pressures of growing up.  And, it's hard to give thanks in all circumstances, because some things don't make me feel very grateful.

That ... however is the key!  Our joy ... our prayers ... our thankfulness should not be based on our feelings.  Feelings come and go like the wind.  Our joy ... our prayers ... our thankfulness should be based on our relationship with God ... who never changes.

I'm not joyful because of problems, but I'm joyful that God is with me as I go through them.  I don't stop praying because of my circumstances ... I pray harder because of my circumstances.  And ... I'm not thankful because I'm faced with hard times ... but I'm thankful because I know that God cares for my life and will always be there.

There's a super old song from church that says, "Count your blessings ... name them one by one."  While this tune is not on the cutting edge of style or contemporary music ... the message is very true.  And ... as you count your blessings ... you magnify God's goodness and minimize your struggles!

So what are you waiting for ... start counting ... 

- David Scruggs (Gastonia, NC)