AppNotes

November 27, 2020

You’ve committed your life to Christ, but things don’t look good. The kids are doing school at home, you’ve been laid off, your spouse is a front-line worker, the world seems unglued, and it’s the holidays. How’s your joy and contentment going? Being thankful may feel counter-intuitive in such circumstances but not in God’s plan. He calls us to live gratitude. The opposite is to live as ingrates, discontent with God’s gifts, complaining and fomenting rebellion against Him. The night before He was crucified, Jesus gave thanks for His broken body (not a good circumstance), but salvation from sin was offered to mankind forever—JOY! Joy and contentment are the natural derivatives of thankfulness. In her book “One Thousand Gifts,” Ann Voskamp’s journey to joy came by developing the habit of gratitude for God’s small and great gifts—1,000 and counting. Begin a habit today of giving thanks continually. Watch your attitude change while joy and contentment grow.

Bible Reading

Philippians 4:11-12 NIV
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.