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 .jfif.jpg)
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
Ron Susek
4/11/2019
THE BONDAGE OF AN OATH
Ron Susek
4/4/2019
CO-CRUCIFIXION
Ron Susek
3/28/2019
THE FAITH OF AN ASSYRIAN PATRIARCH
Ron Susek
3/21/2019
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TRUE HISTORY
Ron Susek
3/14/2019
DON'T TOUCH THE ARK
Ron Susek
3/7/2019
GOD'S MYSTERIOUS WAY
Ron Susek
2/28/2019
IS IT WORTH LOSING SLEEP?
Ron Susek
2/21/2019
WHAT MAKES PRAYER FEEBLE
Ron Susek
2/14/2019
WEAPONS FOR TODAY'S BATTLES
Ron Susek
2/7/2019
THE DANGER OF SUBSTITUTE ACTIVITY
Ron Susek
1/31/2019
NEVER LOOK BACK
Ron Susek
1/24/2019
WINTER'S MESSAGE
Ron Susek
1/17/2019
MORE THAN CONQUERORS
Ron Susek
1/10/2019
HOW HUMAN ARE YOU?
Ron Susek
1/3/2019
MOMENTS AFTER THE WAR
Ron Susek
12/27/2018
THE NIGHT OF HIS BIRTH
Ron Susek
12/20/2018
ONE BRIGHT DAY IN NAZARETH
Ron Susek
12/13/2018
WHAT JESUS KNEW BEFORE HIS BIRTH
Ron Susek
12/6/2018
A TIME TO BOW DOWN
Ron Susek
11/29/2018
AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
Ron Susek
11/22/2018
ENEMIES OF THANKSGIVING
Ron Susek
11/15/2018
YOU ARE THE LIGHT
Ron Susek
11/8/2018
THE EMOTIONS OF GOD (PART SIX: EMPATHY)
Ron Susek
11/1/2018
THE EMOTIONS OF GOD (PART FIVE: HEARTBREAK)
Ron Susek
10/25/2018
THE EMOTIONS OF GOD (PART FOUR: GRIEF)
Ron Susek
10/18/2018
THE EMOTIONS OF GOD (PART THREE: JOY)
Ron Susek
10/11/2018
THE EMOTIONS OF GOD (PART TWO: WRATH
Ron Susek
10/4/2018
THE EMOTIONS OF GOD (PART ONE: INDIGNATION)
Dr. Ron Susek
9/27/2018
BY INVITATION ONLY
Dr. Ron Susek
9/20/2018
THE MYSTERY OF DIVINE ENCOUNTERS
Dr. Ron Susek
9/13/2018
THE GOD OF PERFECT GIFTS
Ron Susek
9/6/2018
COMPROMISE? NEVER!
Ron Susek
8/30/2018
THE TEST OF LORDSHIP
Ron Susek
8/23/2018
PERFECT FEAR
Ron Susek
8/16/2018
BYPASSED
Ron Susek
8/9/2018
GOD'S ACCURACY
Ron Susek
8/2/2018
FAITH AMID SLEEPLESS NIGHTS
Ron Susek
7/26/2018
FAITH'S NARROW RIDGE
Ron Susek
7/19/2018
THE GREAT LEAP OF FAITH
Ron Susek
7/12/2018
QUOTABLE QUOTES
Ron Susek
7/5/2018
WHEN ALL STRENGTH IS GONE
Ron Susek
6/28/2018
THE DEEPEST CALL ON EARTH
Ron Susek
6/21/2018
THINK BEFORE JUDGING GOD
Ron Susek
6/14/2018
THE DIVINE SEARCH
Ron Susek
6/7/2018
WATCH YOUR STEP!
Ron Susek
5/31/2018
EARTH'S BRIGHTEST LIGHT
Ron Susek
5/24/2018
THE LAMP OF YOUR SPIRIT
Ron Susek
5/17/2018
FOCUS OR FAIL
Ron Susek
5/10/2018
THE DIVINE PLOT
Ron Susek
5/3/2018
PERFECTING FAITH
Ron Susek
4/26/2018
GOD IS KNOWABLE
Ron Susek
4/19/2018
INTERPRETING GOD
Ron Susek
4/12/2018
DEATH AND RESURRECTION
Ron Susek
4/5/2018
SEVEN LIFE-CHANGING WORDS
Ron Susek
3/29/2018
THE KING PASSED BY IN SILENCE
Ron Susek
3/22/2018
THE SILENCE OF GOD
Ron Susek
3/15/2018
UTTERLY BROKEN
Ron Susek
3/8/2018
ACHIEVING THE IMPOSSIBLE
Ron Susek
3/1/2018
BILLY'S GONE
Ron Susek
2/22/2018
WHEN IDEALS AND REALITY COLLIDE
Ron Susek
2/15/2018
THE SHAMING OF GOD
Ron Susek
2/8/2018
THE FIRE OF FAITH
Ron Susek
2/1/2018
THE FULNESS OF FAITH
Ron Susek
1/25/2018
THE FOUNDATION OF FAITH
Ron Susek
1/18/2018
THE CONFLICT OF CONFORMITY
Ron Susek
1/12/2018
KING OF THE NATIONS
Ron Susek
1/5/2018
NEVER LEAVE YOUR POST
Ron Susek
12/28/2017
HE LOOKS JUST LIKE HIS FATHER
Ron Susek
12/21/2017
WHEN GOD IS READY, IT HAPPENS!
Ron Susek
12/7/2017
THE ORDINARY vs. the SPECTACULAR
Ron Susek
11/30/2017
ThanksLiving
Ron Susek
11/23/2017
PRAYING FOR SURVIVORS OF A MASSACRE
Ron Susek
11/16/2017
FROM REVELATION TO ACTION
Ron Susek
11/9/2017
HEAVEN'S MEDAL of HONOR
Ron Susek
11/2/2017
DISCERNING YOUR ROLE IN LIFE
Ron Susek
10/26/2017
A SOUL-SEARCHING QUESTION
Ron Susek
10/19/2017
FAITH AMID THE UNPREDICTABLE
Ron Susek
10/12/2017
FINGERPRINTS and FORGIVENESS
Ron Susek
10/10/2017
FREE TO BE A SLAVE
Ron Susek
9/28/2017
BLIND BY CHOICE
Ron Susek
9/21/2017
OF COURAGE AND CHARACTER
Ron Susek
9/14/2017
PROBING THE SOUL
Ron Susek
9/7/2017
REJOICE OVER WHAT MATTERS
Ron Susek
8/31/2017
DECIDE THE RIVER'S FLOW
Ron Susek
8/24/2017
DEADLY DOUBT
Ron Susek
8/17/2017
GOD LEAVES NO FOOTPRINTS
Ron Susek
8/15/2017
KEEP SOWING
Ron Susek
8/3/2017
Focusing All Resources
Ron Susek
7/27/2017
Faith, Fight and Freedom
Ron Susek
7/20/2017
HANK'S HOME
Ron Susek
7/13/2017
AN UNEXPECTED TEST OF LOVE
Ron Susek
7/6/2017
Amanda : A Reason To Go
Ron Susek
6/27/2017
A Fisherman's Sad Saga
Ron Susek
6/20/2017
How You Will Be Judged
Ron Susek
6/15/2017
The Power of Two Small Words
Ron Susek
6/13/2017
A Different Kind of War
Ron Susek
6/1/2017
Savior of All Mankind
Ron Susek
5/25/2017
Inspiration vs. Vision
Ron Susek
5/18/2017
Gaining the Advantage
Ron Susek
9/8/2016
Living Water for Thirsty Souls
Ron Susek
9/1/2016
How We Indict God
Ron Susek
8/14/2016
Parable of Two Wells
Ron Susek
8/8/2016
Preview of Heaven
Ron Susek
8/1/2016
Keepers of Sacred Treasures
Ron Susek
7/26/2016
God Sees Your Sorrows
Ron Susek
7/19/2016
The River of Faith
Ron Susek
7/8/2016
Know Your Inalienable Rights
Dr. Ron Susek
7/4/2016
Jesus Never Lost Focus
Dr. Ron Susek
6/26/2016
Assured Access to God
Dr. Ron Susek
6/19/2016
Seeking the Desires of God
Dr. Ron Susek
6/13/2016
Broken Faith, Radical Repentance
Dr. Ron Susek
5/31/2016
The Unfamiliar World of Holiness
Dr. Ron Susek
5/31/2016
Creation of a Clean Heart
Dr. Ron Susek
5/23/2016
Against All Odds
Dr. Ron Susek
5/13/2016
The Power Behind Jesus's Prayers
Dr. Ron Susek
5/1/2016
Shut the Door
Dr. Ron Susek
4/26/2016
Breaking the Log Jam
Dr. Ron Susek
4/14/2016
A Bad Time to Sleep
Dr. Ron Susek
4/5/2016
Some Mountains won't Move
Dr. Ron Susek
4/4/2016
The Power of Imagination and prayer
Dr. Ron Susek
3/21/2016
Faith of the Son of God
Dr. Ron Susek
3/14/2016
Faith of a Mustard Seed
Dr. Ron Susek
3/7/2016
Life is War
Dr. Ron Susek
2/29/2016
Lead Me To the Rock
Dr. Ron Susek
2/22/2016
All-Surpassing Power
Dr. Ron Susek
2/15/2016
Take No Thougth for Your Life
Dr. Ron Susek
2/9/2016
Divine Astonishment
Dr. Ron Susek
2/1/2016
Forked-Tongue Foes
Dr Ron Susek
1/25/2016
Prophet of the Weeping God
Dr. Ron Susek
1/19/2016
