Ever have one of those days that just doesn’t go the way you planned?  Today I was on my way to Oklahoma to a ministry conference, and my vehicle started vibrating badly like the driveshaft was out of balance.  It seemed like at any moment it might come out of there and pass me.  So my trip was interrupted to spend the night at a hotel out of town.  Hopefully it will be a simple and inexpensive repair, and I’ll be back on my way tomorrow.  Funny thing, most of the day a song has been going through my mind, “And in all things give Him thanks…..” Yeah, I guess that means even when your vehicle breaks.  Don’t get me wrong: I’m not thankful FOR the trouble, but I’m thankful IN the trouble.  Maybe it’s just a test.  Maybe it’s the devil trying to aggravate me, but I’m going to aggravate him back by praising God.  And if it isn’t the devil behind it, that’s ok, I’m going to praise God anyway, because it’s the right thing to do.

Some people wait until the bottom falls out of their bucket to start praising God and giving Him thanks.  Not me, I truly believe God keeps me out of trouble because of my constantly praising Him and thanking Him for all He does for me.  No, I don’t get everything I want, but then again, I don’t get a lot of things I DON’T want, like sickness and lack.  He takes real good care of me.  Yesterday I saw a sign that said, “Jesus loves you, but I’m His favorite”, and told my wife, “Where have we seen THAT before?” One of our dear friends has that on their wall, and I chuckle every time I think about it.  Surely I must be His favorite child, else why would He love me so?  But I hear the same thing from lots of His kids.  God just loves on His kids so MUCH!  And that’s all the more reason to praise and thank Him, isn’t it?

Are YOU one of the LORD’S children?  If not, WHY not?  He delights in blessing His children, and of course you know that if you’re already one of His.  Have you told someone today that Jesus loves them?  You just may save someone’s life that is at the point of giving up.  Knowing God loves you when things aren’t going the way you’d hoped, can bring peace into a bad situation.  And knowing God has given you the authority to use His name to get the devil off your back goes a LONG way too, I might add.  There are privileges to being a child of the Most High God, for sure.  And there are responsibilities, too, like using the grace He gives you to be a witness unto others of His love, patience, and kindness.

When others can see you being thankful to God when things are not going well for you, it speaks well of His love for you, and yours for Him, and will lead others to seek Him also.  So instead of griping when things go badly, just smile and say, “God is good!” because He is!  Who knows, God might have kept me out of an accident by my vehicle breaking down, He sees the big picture, and I don’t.   It is written in Romans 8:27-28,
27  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. note
28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

“Even if it isn’t what WE would have preferred to happen…God has our back.  So in all things give thanks.”