thankfulness Archives – CadreMen Press Devotionals

Give Thanks In Everything

Give Thanks In Everything by Kirk Hunt

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

God’s people are to give thanks in every circumstance. Not for all circumstances, but in them. There is a significant difference that makes the difference between strong Christians and other folk.

The circumstances you find yourself in have been allowed by God. Father-God is neither surprised nor unable to respond to your situation. Consider the circumstances of Job. The enemy of our souls had to ask permission before anything could happen to Job.

Why does God allow things to happen to us? Perhaps He is polishing your character. It could be he is preparing you to minister to others with intimate, inside knowledge. You may be receiving the outcome of your choices.

Like Job, we must do the best we can with what God allows into our lives. Job stayed faithful with wealth and blessings. Job stayed faithful despite loss and hardship. Good or bad, love God, not what He gives you.

Job gave thanks in his circumstances. His heart was set on God, not on what he could get from God. God’s people who master this are always full of joy and blessing, even when they are at their lowest. It may not be easy, but trust God. He has your best interests in His heart.

Think: Regardless of the upside, or downside, we are to be grateful to God.

Pray: “Lord, help me to be grateful to You, not matter what my circumstances are.”

This devotional is brought to you courtesy of CadreMen Press. You can purchase a copy of Blessed and Blessing: Devotionals For Gospel Champions from your favorite bookseller or directly from CadreMen Press.

God Has Granted

God Has Granted by Kirk Hunt

For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’

Acts 27:23-24 NKJV

In all of the noise, frenzy and disruption of this season, it is too easy to miss God’s presence. I and my extended family are blessed to walk in the blessing, grace and peace God has granted. My life is notable for God’s peaceful calm, despite the many storms of the day.

Brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, and a host of cousins live on. None of the nephews and nieces are ill or injured. The extended tribe of my family faces neither undue hardship or harsh lack. We are blessed to prosper in the midst of the tempest.

Obviously, God’s angels stand close. Some carry sword and shield against disease and destroyers. Others carry boxes and baskets of provision for me and mine. I can only whisper, or shout, praise and thanksgiving.

God’s favor is not fair and cannot be earned. I are humbled by God’s tender attention. I am overwhelmed by His loving care. “Thank You” is too small a response to all of the good and benefit God has poured out on me and mine. In thankful response, I will pass on some of my blessing to others.

Look around. Despite the inconveniences you live with, you have enough to share. When God does not send angels, He sends His saints. Saints are men and women, just like you, who share the benefits and blessings they have received from God. Who have you blessed lately?

Think: God has granted. Have you shared?

Pray: “Lord, help me share the favor you have given me.”

Before His God

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“Before His God” By Kirk Hunt

And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

2 Samuel 6:16 NKJV

Poppa was mentally, and possibly physically, the toughest man I have ever known. He went places and did things in the face of incredible opposition. Still, Momma often called him a “crybaby.”

It was in the middle of a church service that it registered with me that I saw his tears. The tears were part of his thankfulness. He cried as worship to his God. It was deeply moving and significant when I realized that his hard, iron-grip hands were raised in adoration and praise to God.

David was a great and established king. He had achieved the throne against tremendous opposition. Still, when the Ark entered Jerusalem, he could not contain himself. He stripped to his (fancy) underwear and danced before His God. It must have been deeply moving and significant to watch this powerful warrior spin and jump before his God.

David ignored his wife’s jeering at his undignified display. Poppa paid Momma no attention when she poked fun at his manly tears. And in either case, no one else dared say anything. Hopefully, most were able to see the beauty of their unrestrained displays of devotion.

God deserves the biggest, deepest reservoirs of your love and devotion. What does it look like when you show Him all of yourself? All I know is that it is beautiful in His eyes.

Think: Am I willing to express my deepest love to God?

Pray: “Lord, You are worthy of my deepest reverence and love, plus more.

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

Thankful

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“Thankful” By Kirk Hunt

I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of the Lord.

Psalms 116:17 NKJV

I approached the Western Wall, considering the place holy, if not by God’s true presence, then by the thousands of sincere prayers offered there. As I drew close, I could see that every crack and crevice in the stone was filled with prayer notes. I was thankful that my requests would go to God there.

I was, frankly, taken aback. My heart, mind and mouth could not form a request. The Holy Spirit stopped up my request maker. In its place, He unleashed my thanks giver. “Quit begging. Start thanking.”

So there I was, a lone goyim at the Wall, my heart crying out to God. The tears were of joy. I gave myself over to the thankfulness and gratitude that spilled out to my God. After all, He has been good to me in the past, is good to me in the present and will be good to me in the future.

Not that all of my days have been easy and bountiful. Still, even on the toughest days, He has been exceedingly good to me. Since I have already received so much from Him, my only reasonable response is to be grateful and thankful.

I am reminded that I should thank more and ask less. I am blessed by the sincere gratitude of my own sons. I owe God my gratitude, and I intend to pay what I owe.

Think: I should be thankful for all God has done, is doing and will do for me.

Pray: “Thank you, Lord.”

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

Thankfulness In Peace

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“Thankfulness In Peace” By Kirk Hunt

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Colossians 3:15 NKJV

Unity. Peace. Thankfulness. All three concepts are bound together.

Keep in mind that unity is not the same thing as uniformity. Unity is when the rough-looking biker-type is serving the vegetables right next to the skinny nerd dishing out the entrée. And everyone in the food line is thankful they work together.

Spike and Specs work together they are both Christ-followers. Since they are at peace within themselves, they can be at peace with others. They are grateful, not just for each other, but for the opportunity to advance the Kingdom of God, here and now.

Which comes first, the peace or the community or the thankfulness? Pick one and work for the others. Do not even think of apologizing if you have all three, just send me the secret formula for that state of affairs.

Be grateful your peace comes from God and enables you to have unity with others, especially saints. Be thankful for your community of saints, which gives you the place and space for peace. The saints around you are enabled by, and thankful for, the peace of God that has rule within you.

Think: I am grateful for internal peace for myself and my local Church.

Pray: “Lord, thank You for peace, community and unity.”

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

His Peace

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And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Colossians 3:15 (KJV)

Peace is not the absence of conflict or turmoil. Instead, it is the presence of assurance in God’s care and provision. I can be at peace in the middle of storm and conflict.

Thankfulness and peace are linked. Thankfulness is an attitude of appreciation and gratitude. It doesn’t mean I have all I want or everything looks good. It means that I recognize God sovereign place and space in my life.

I thankful because I have His peace. My thankfulness draws His peace. As you embrace the one, the other follows.

Christians should live in a state of peace. We should gratitude for the life and liberty that comes through Christ Jesus. He has given us the best, in eternity and this life as well.

Does that mean that all Christians live in great wealth or in serene circumstances? My bank account could use more zeros, to be sure. Still, I live in the wealth of God’s love and grace.

My circumstances are not themselves tranquil or calm at all times. Still, I rest in God. In the most violent of storms, I am confident in His care and provision.

Think: God’s peace and thankfulness are linked to each other and me.

Pray: “Father-God, help me to trust and rest all the more in You.”

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