1 Thessalonians 5:18

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Today's Thought: Do not stop thanking God for least and seemingly bad things happening to you.

Corrie ten Boom was a prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp. These camps were filthy and there were thousands of fleas everywhere. Corrie's sister always reminded Corrie of 1 Thessalonians 5:18: In everything give thanks. But when Corrie realized that the guards did not get near their cells because of the fleas and they could continue to praise and worship the Lord, she realized that, indeed, in everything give thanks.

Sometimes, there are fleas in your life you want out. While they are not big problems and difficulties, but they sure annoy you at most. These little trials are designed by the Lord that we may be able to learn spiritual lessons and help us through when big waves come by.

When we are tempted and tried, let us not complain, but let us learn to give thanks and continue on. It is only through during happy days and beautiful sunrises we give God the glory He deserves, but we also give Him the glory during winter times when everything is gloomy and cold.

Psalm 92:1-2
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High:

To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,

Today's Thought: If you want to praise God when the sun goes down, start praising at each morn.

John Stott was a British preacher who would start his morning with this prayer: "Good morning, heavenly Father. Good morning, Lord Jesus. Good morning, Holy Spirit...Father, I pray that I may live this day in Your presence and please You more and more. Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow You. Holy Spirit, I pray that this day You will fill me with Yourself and cause Your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, three Persons in one God, have mercy upon me. Amen."

The psalmist declares the need for us to praise God every morning for the lovingkindness that He has shown us. Whatever may happen throughout our day, we will remember that all things are working according to the loving plan of the Lord. With this thought, we will sleep at night knowing that our God is a faithful God who mercies are new every morning.

Our day will only be as good as our prayer. Without prayer, our day becomes miserable and without the leading of the Holy Spirit. Let us learn to start the day with praise unto God and end it with worship to Him.

Ephesians 4:17

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

Today's Thought: We need to understand the meaning of what we do based on the standards of the Lord.

An advertisement in London's Tube to lure city workers to get a vacations says: "Your work is meaningless. And you’ll die having achieved comparatively little. You need a holiday." Many people are truly sick and tired of what they are doing - they need a holiday. A vacation off what they are doing for them to look at these things in an objective manner and see the meaning out of it.

There are so many things that we can do here on earth, but the Lord is asking us to walk and testify His goodness to others. The vanity around us is spiralling and it could easily overwhelm us and make us forget the greatness of the Lord. As we work, let us have the motivation that we are here on this world not to be rich but to share. Our work will become useful and fulfilling only when it enables us to help and give to others

Only when we realize the primacy of God and that our work is God-given that we realize the meaning out of it. That we get out from the tired and sick thinking into the level of thought wherein the Lord reigns supreme.

Luke 21:12-13

But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony.

Today's Thought: The Lord can use anything and anyone to tell the good news of salvation.

During the reign of Bloody Mary, two of her famous victims were Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley. These two men preached the word of God even under the persecution of Mary. They were regarded as heretics and we burned at the stake. Several more died when Mary came to throne of England in her desire to bring back Catholicism in the country.

At the death of Ridley, as a crowd was watching and his body had been burning slowly to prolong the suffering, Latimer called out to cheer up Ridley: Be of good comfort, Mr. Ridley, and play the man! We shall this day light such a candle by God’s grace, in England, as I trust never shall be put out.

Trials present us an opportunity to let others know Jesus Christ. It is an opportunity to show what our faith really means. We must understand that our faith is not just meant for home or church, but it is meant for the community, the hospital, the workplace, and whereever we are. Let it may that whatever trials and persecutions we are going to face, we will be found faithful.

Psalm 112:1

Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

Today's Thought: The true greatness of a man is in the fear of the Lord.

Alexander III of Macedon was called as Alexander the Great for creating one of the largest empires of the ancient world at the age of 30 spanning from Greece to India. He was considered one of the best military generals of all time. Is that all that made him "Great"?

Psalm 112 declares the blessed man as the person who has the favor and approval of the Lord. He is a man who fears the Lord. He also finds delight in the commandments and Word of the Lord. He is also compassionate and gracious. He is also a generous man. He also trusts continually in the will of God. And he is always secure in the presence of the Lord. These are the things that make a man great.

Let us pray that we may all live in accordance to the will and approval of God. It is only through godliness that our true greatness is revealed. When we do, others will see and they will praise the Lord.