Have you identified the enemies within you determined to destroy thankfulness? Do not miss today's edition of FaithWalk: Courage for the Journey.
Enemies of Thankgsiving
by Ron Susek
@Golden Quill Publications
. . . give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
(1 Thessalonians 5:16)
There are enemies within you desiring to choke your thankful heart.
Consider:
These enemies and more despise the idea that God's will for you is to be thankful when life is not going your way. But remember that the man who said it is God's will for us to be thankful in all circumstances did so during shipwreck, imprisonment, false accusations and beatings.
The most powerful example of a thankful heart amid deep sorrow is found in the One whom we are to emulate - Jesus Christ. On the eve of His crucifixion, He took the bread and blessed it, then raised the cup and gave thanks, even though He knew full well what they symbolized. Within hours His body would be broken beyond recognition and His blood would be dripping from thorns in His brow, a spear in His side and spikes in His hands and feet. People would be spitting on Him, gleeful to see Him die.
This is what the bread and the wine foretold. He knew it. He had been telling His disciples that this hour would come. And when it did, He gave thanks.
What was the basis for His thankfulness? He knew it would please His Father to provide redemption for the world, no matter what the cost. Further, He saw the joy that lay before Him, especially the joy of taking you with Him into glory.
The writer of Hebrews called upon the defeated Christian Jews whose suffering was causing them to drift from the faith. He wrote, "[look] unto Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
It may be tempting to argue, "But, you don't know the depth of the pain in my heart!" True. But God does! And He knows His wise purpose in permitting it.
So, take all of your heartaches, disappointments, injustices and betrayals and give thanks to God; after all, this is a necessary process of preparation for sitting with Jesus, ruling with Him in the coming world (Ephesians 2:6). Do this as an intentional act until you can wholeheartedly raise your cup of suffering and give thanks. If not, the enemies within will do all in their power to strangle your desire to fulfill the will of God by lifting before His eyes a thankful heart.
Always remember, Immanuel: God is with you!
Your friend
Ron,
JESUS: THE UNCONQUERABLE
4/11/2019 3:49:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE BONDAGE OF AN OATH
4/4/2019 3:31:00 PM by: Ron Susek
CO-CRUCIFIXION
3/28/2019 3:04:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE FAITH OF AN ASSYRIAN PATRIARCH
3/21/2019 9:40:00 AM by: Ron Susek
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TRUE HISTORY
3/14/2019 10:48:00 AM by: Ron Susek
DON'T TOUCH THE ARK
3/7/2019 10:39:00 AM by: Ron Susek
GOD'S MYSTERIOUS WAY
2/28/2019 10:23:00 AM by: Ron Susek
IS IT WORTH LOSING SLEEP?
2/21/2019 10:09:00 AM by: Ron Susek
WHAT MAKES PRAYER FEEBLE
2/14/2019 5:49:00 PM by: Ron Susek
WEAPONS FOR TODAY'S BATTLES
2/7/2019 5:39:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE DANGER OF SUBSTITUTE ACTIVITY
1/31/2019 5:29:00 PM by: Ron Susek
NEVER LOOK BACK
1/24/2019 5:20:00 PM by: Ron Susek
WINTER'S MESSAGE
1/17/2019 5:11:00 PM by: Ron Susek
MORE THAN CONQUERORS
1/10/2019 5:02:00 PM by: Ron Susek
HOW HUMAN ARE YOU?
1/3/2019 3:53:00 PM by: Ron Susek
MOMENTS AFTER THE WAR
12/27/2018 3:28:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE NIGHT OF HIS BIRTH
12/20/2018 3:09:00 PM by: Ron Susek
ONE BRIGHT DAY IN NAZARETH
12/13/2018 3:54:00 PM by: Ron Susek
WHAT JESUS KNEW BEFORE HIS BIRTH
12/6/2018 3:25:00 PM by: Ron Susek
A TIME TO BOW DOWN
11/29/2018 3:09:00 PM by: Ron Susek
AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
11/22/2018 2:54:00 PM by: Ron Susek
ENEMIES OF THANKSGIVING
11/15/2018 2:35:00 PM by: Ron Susek
YOU ARE THE LIGHT
11/8/2018 1:58:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE EMOTIONS OF GOD (PART SIX: EMPATHY)
11/1/2018 1:41:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE EMOTIONS OF GOD (PART FIVE: HEARTBREAK)
10/25/2018 1:22:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE EMOTIONS OF GOD (PART FOUR: GRIEF)
10/18/2018 1:07:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE EMOTIONS OF GOD (PART THREE: JOY)
10/11/2018 12:37:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE EMOTIONS OF GOD (PART TWO: WRATH
10/4/2018 12:23:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE EMOTIONS OF GOD (PART ONE: INDIGNATION)
9/27/2018 12:10:00 PM by: Dr. Ron Susek
BY INVITATION ONLY
9/20/2018 11:44:00 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
THE MYSTERY OF DIVINE ENCOUNTERS
9/13/2018 11:17:00 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
THE GOD OF PERFECT GIFTS
9/6/2018 8:20:00 AM by: Ron Susek
COMPROMISE? NEVER!
8/30/2018 3:49:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE TEST OF LORDSHIP
8/23/2018 2:59:00 PM by: Ron Susek
PERFECT FEAR
8/16/2018 2:46:00 PM by: Ron Susek
BYPASSED
8/9/2018 2:34:00 PM by: Ron Susek
GOD'S ACCURACY
8/2/2018 2:03:00 PM by: Ron Susek
FAITH AMID SLEEPLESS NIGHTS
7/26/2018 3:48:00 PM by: Ron Susek
FAITH'S NARROW RIDGE
7/19/2018 3:37:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE GREAT LEAP OF FAITH
7/12/2018 3:22:00 PM by: Ron Susek
QUOTABLE QUOTES
7/5/2018 6:31:00 PM by: Ron Susek
WHEN ALL STRENGTH IS GONE
6/28/2018 6:13:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE DEEPEST CALL ON EARTH
6/21/2018 5:48:00 AM by: Ron Susek
THINK BEFORE JUDGING GOD
6/14/2018 5:35:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE DIVINE SEARCH
6/7/2018 3:30:00 PM by: Ron Susek
WATCH YOUR STEP!
5/31/2018 3:17:00 PM by: Ron Susek
EARTH'S BRIGHTEST LIGHT
5/24/2018 3:00:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE LAMP OF YOUR SPIRIT
5/17/2018 3:26:00 PM by: Ron Susek
FOCUS OR FAIL
5/10/2018 3:12:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE DIVINE PLOT
5/3/2018 9:19:00 AM by: Ron Susek
PERFECTING FAITH
4/26/2018 7:20:00 AM by: Ron Susek
GOD IS KNOWABLE
4/19/2018 5:36:00 AM by: Ron Susek
INTERPRETING GOD
4/12/2018 3:51:00 PM by: Ron Susek
DEATH AND RESURRECTION
4/5/2018 9:30:00 AM by: Ron Susek
SEVEN LIFE-CHANGING WORDS
3/29/2018 11:41:00 AM by: Ron Susek
THE KING PASSED BY IN SILENCE
3/22/2018 11:25:00 AM by: Ron Susek
THE SILENCE OF GOD
3/15/2018 10:58:00 AM by: Ron Susek
UTTERLY BROKEN
3/8/2018 12:48:00 PM by: Ron Susek
ACHIEVING THE IMPOSSIBLE
3/1/2018 6:00:00 AM by: Ron Susek
BILLY'S GONE
2/22/2018 6:56:00 PM by: Ron Susek
WHEN IDEALS AND REALITY COLLIDE
2/15/2018 9:38:00 AM by: Ron Susek
THE SHAMING OF GOD
2/8/2018 6:00:00 AM by: Ron Susek
THE FIRE OF FAITH
2/1/2018 9:51:00 AM by: Ron Susek
THE FULNESS OF FAITH
1/25/2018 8:28:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE FOUNDATION OF FAITH
1/18/2018 6:52:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE CONFLICT OF CONFORMITY
1/12/2018 2:00:00 PM by: Ron Susek
KING OF THE NATIONS
1/5/2018 12:16:00 PM by: Ron Susek
NEVER LEAVE YOUR POST
12/28/2017 8:00:00 AM by: Ron Susek
HE LOOKS JUST LIKE HIS FATHER
12/21/2017 9:02:00 AM by: Ron Susek
WHEN GOD IS READY, IT HAPPENS!
12/7/2017 8:15:00 AM by: Ron Susek
THE ORDINARY vs. the SPECTACULAR
11/30/2017 6:55:00 AM by: Ron Susek
ThanksLiving
11/23/2017 9:00:00 AM by: Ron Susek
PRAYING FOR SURVIVORS OF A MASSACRE
11/16/2017 7:37:00 AM by: Ron Susek
FROM REVELATION TO ACTION
11/9/2017 7:15:00 AM by: Ron Susek
HEAVEN'S MEDAL of HONOR
11/2/2017 6:00:00 AM by: Ron Susek
DISCERNING YOUR ROLE IN LIFE
10/26/2017 7:00:00 AM by: Ron Susek
A SOUL-SEARCHING QUESTION
10/19/2017 11:49:00 AM by: Ron Susek
FAITH AMID THE UNPREDICTABLE
10/12/2017 10:36:00 AM by: Ron Susek
FINGERPRINTS and FORGIVENESS
10/10/2017 5:58:00 PM by: Ron Susek
FREE TO BE A SLAVE
9/28/2017 3:08:00 PM by: Ron Susek
BLIND BY CHOICE
9/21/2017 9:13:00 AM by: Ron Susek
OF COURAGE AND CHARACTER
9/14/2017 5:00:00 AM by: Ron Susek
PROBING THE SOUL
9/7/2017 9:13:00 AM by: Ron Susek
REJOICE OVER WHAT MATTERS
8/31/2017 7:18:00 AM by: Ron Susek
DECIDE THE RIVER'S FLOW
8/24/2017 12:26:00 PM by: Ron Susek
DEADLY DOUBT
8/17/2017 9:36:00 AM by: Ron Susek
GOD LEAVES NO FOOTPRINTS
8/15/2017 12:40:00 PM by: Ron Susek
KEEP SOWING
8/3/2017 6:00:00 AM by: Ron Susek
Focusing All Resources
7/27/2017 8:42:00 AM by: Ron Susek
Faith, Fight and Freedom
7/20/2017 7:32:00 AM by: Ron Susek
HANK'S HOME
7/13/2017 7:53:00 AM by: Ron Susek
AN UNEXPECTED TEST OF LOVE
7/6/2017 1:47:00 PM by: Ron Susek
Amanda : A Reason To Go
6/27/2017 2:11:00 PM by: Ron Susek
A Fisherman's Sad Saga
6/20/2017 2:28:00 PM by: Ron Susek
How You Will Be Judged
6/15/2017 8:31:00 PM by: Ron Susek
The Power of Two Small Words
6/13/2017 8:13:00 PM by: Ron Susek
A Different Kind of War
6/1/2017 6:19:00 PM by: Ron Susek
Savior of All Mankind
5/25/2017 7:02:00 PM by: Ron Susek
Inspiration vs. Vision
5/18/2017 7:18:00 PM by: Ron Susek
Gaining the Advantage
9/8/2016 5:39:00 PM by: Ron Susek
Living Water for Thirsty Souls
9/1/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Ron Susek
How We Indict God
8/14/2016 8:47:16 AM by: Ron Susek
Parable of Two Wells
8/8/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Ron Susek
Preview of Heaven
8/1/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Ron Susek
Keepers of Sacred Treasures
7/26/2016 2:32:36 PM by: Ron Susek
God Sees Your Sorrows
7/19/2016 12:17:51 PM by: Ron Susek
The River of Faith
7/8/2016 4:14:46 PM by: Ron Susek
Know Your Inalienable Rights
7/4/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
Jesus Never Lost Focus
6/26/2016 4:27:05 PM by: Dr. Ron Susek
Assured Access to God
6/19/2016 9:17:05 PM by: Dr. Ron Susek
Seeking the Desires of God
6/13/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
Broken Faith, Radical Repentance
5/31/2016 6:44:37 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
The Unfamiliar World of Holiness
5/31/2016 6:36:48 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
Creation of a Clean Heart
5/23/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
Against All Odds
5/13/2016 7:48:59 PM by: Dr. Ron Susek
The Power Behind Jesus's Prayers
5/1/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
Shut the Door
4/26/2016 12:53:34 PM by: Dr. Ron Susek
Breaking the Log Jam
4/14/2016 8:03:18 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
A Bad Time to Sleep
4/5/2016 9:47:57 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
Some Mountains won't Move
4/4/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
The Power of Imagination and prayer
3/21/2016 6:51:22 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
Faith of the Son of God
3/14/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
Faith of a Mustard Seed
3/7/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
Life is War
2/29/2016 7:04:16 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
Lead Me To the Rock
2/22/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
All-Surpassing Power
2/15/2016 7:12:30 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
Take No Thougth for Your Life
2/9/2016 6:51:12 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
Divine Astonishment
2/1/2016 11:01:44 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
Forked-Tongue Foes
1/25/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Dr Ron Susek
Prophet of the Weeping God
1/19/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek