Skip to main content

Give Thanks Like Daniel





Hard to believe, but It's almost Thanksgiving again.  For the next 30 days, I want to focus on giving thanks.

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.  Daniel 6:10










Most of us are familiar with this story. 

If you’re not, you should pick up your Bible and read the whole account. 

Daniel was exiled to Babylon years earlier. 

He distinguished himself as trustworthy and was in line for a promotion. 

Others who were also being considered for the position tried to 

“find some dirt on him.”  

Daniel acted with integrity, so they could find nothing wrong with him. 

They finally decide to get to him through his faith in God. 

They convinced Darius to make it illegal to ask anything of anyone 

but the king for thirty days. 

What I love is that it didn’t stop Daniel. 

What stands out and catches my attention 

is that the decree didn’t change what Daniel did. 

He was in the habit of thanking God and asking petitions from God. 

It’s easy to think, 

well, yeah, but everything was going right for him. 

He was going to get a promotion. 

Don’t forget that he had been dragged to Babylon against his will. 

No one said, “Hey Daniel, how do you feel about relocating?” 

NKJV says, “as was his custom since early days.” 

I imagine from the time he got to Babylon to that day, 

he was thanking God. 

He made it a habit not just because things were good, 

but even when things were terrible. 

Friends, as we approach Thanksgiving, 

let’s be thankful. 

We need to express our thanks to God not just at Thanksgiving, 

but every day. 

Let’s get in the practice of being grateful.    

We can start now. 

Thank God when everything is good and the sun is shining. 

If You have all you need, bless God. 

If you have been promoted, 

Praise Him. However, 

if it is raining, 

if you have lost a loved one, thank Him. 

If your job is eliminated, 

praise Him. 

If you have been separated from loved ones, be thankful. 

If you have been wiped out financially, 

bless him. 

Start a custom of being thankful.  

Being thankful is an attitude that does not need to depend on our circumstances.  

We can choose to give thanks no matter what we are facing.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Thank you God for Leading us

Thank you God for how you lead us. Like a shepherd leading his sheep. Sometimes through the words you spoke in the Bible, your written word. at other times, it was the wise words from friends,  coworkers,or neighbors spoken at just the right time. Still other times it was a gentle tug,   a whisper to our heart to move  in one direction or another;  intuition or a sixth sense that one   way or another was right or wrong    Yet, when I listened and obeyed   I found the way was clear, distinct and easy to follow. You never leave us to guess which way to go.                                                                                                      ...

What’s That Smell?

To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. 2Corinthians 2:16 Last break!  The shift was almost over. Then the unthinkable happened, this man appeared out of nowhere wanting to know where the flashlights were kept.  As we were on our way to the flashlights, I noticed that this man had a very strong odor.  I thought perhaps I could get in front of him so that the smell would not be as strong.   That, however, was not to be either since; he insisted on keeping pace and walking right beside me. By the time we got to where the flashlights were; I was practically running just to keep ahead of him.  I showed him the flashlights and made a hasty exit.  If you’re like me, you shower and even put on perfume or cologne so that you will not stink.  We are concerned that the smell coming from our body is not offensive to others.  As I write this, I wonder if we are as concerned with our spiritual aroma as ...

Grow Old Gracefully

I’d like to tell you about a lady I visited yesterday.   She is ninety-five years young.  She recently moved into nursing home.  She asked one of the workers how many times she would have to walk around the outside of the building in order to walk a mile.  She said the person told her about ten.   Then she leaned in really close and whispered, “I walked around twelve just to be sure I walked a mile.”  Hahahaha! What a lady!  She loves to keep active, even in a nursing home.  As we talked, I saw no anger or bitterness in her speech or actions. There was only a love for God, a heart of compassion, and a sense of humor. She has befriended the one "prickly pear" at the home because as she said, “I have to love her, so she knows Jesus loves her too.”  Wow!!! I need to live like that!  I want to show that much compassion for those around me that need Jesus.  She loved to talk about God and what he was teaching her. ...