I Give You True Gifts

My daughter, I am the way, the truth, and the light. Whoever knows Me will not perish but have eternal life. I am the gatherer, the one who comes and brings hope and keeps you close to Me. You may move away from Me, but I still remain.

Let nothing separate us.

There is freedom in laying down that restless heart. Be steadfast, with Me. You have what it takes. I have given you a heart that, in truth, desires Me more than anything. This is how you are steadfast, this is how you do not waver, this is how you stay close to Me: when your heart is filled with Me.

Desire more of Me.

I give you the true things for which your heart desires. Truth, hope, joy, freedom—this is life with Me. In the midst of trial, I give you these things. In the midst of heartache and trouble, I remove anxiety and worry, and I give you these things. In the midst of storms and busyness and patches of quiet when I feel not so near, I give you these gifts of your heart. Because I gather and restore what is mine.

I have designed you, and I know what you need.

Let my love overflow on you. Let my gifts be easy to receive.

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:10 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/gal.6.10.KJV

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/1th.5.18.KJV

Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. Philippians 4:1‭-‬9 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/php.4.1-9.KJV

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace. For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:3‭-‬11 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/php.1.3-11.KJV

Thanksgiving Is a Command 

Don’t you find it curious when reading Philippians that Paul, while in prison and under the threat of death, commands us to “rejoice”? Not only does Paul in his dire circumstances tell us to rejoice, he says that feeling thankful is “right.” Now hold on … don’t we feel that depression, negativity, pessimism, and straightforward acts of defiance, are plain responses of justice to an event such as imprisonment? I

would have to say I do. If I was Paul, and in prison, I would think the appropriate response to the situation would be despair, anger, and a well-timed temper tantrum. Yet Paul, in Philippians 1:3-11, spends his moments and days remembering the believers in Philippi, and instead of pitying himself, he cannot stop thanking God—and he “says it’s right for him to feel this way.”

As you read today, consider God’s command to “rejoice” and be thankful. It’s not a request, as if God were pleading with you. He’s commanding you to do it because it’s right, and he knows that if you obey, you will reap the ripe fruits of experiencing his presence and enjoying his peace and contentment. 

Also, as you read 1 Thessolonians 5:18 consider the audacity of God to sum up his will for your life through one word, “thankfulness.” Many of you reading today are asking “what is God’s will for you?” Lucky for you, God tells you. His will is for you to be thankful. He never promised you the job, the education, the spouse, the marriage, the kids, the church, the city, or the circumstance of your dreams. All God asks, is that in whatever situation, and wherever you find yourself, that you stay thankful. Not only is this command a benefit to you, but it keeps you centered on the person of Jesus. When we think upon God and all he is, there’s no other right response than to be thankful (PSA 106:1).

To learn more about how you can grow in your thankful worship, register for our global Make Jesus Culture Conference. Visit www.makejesusculture.com or the www.gardencityproject.com

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. Psalms 100:4‭-‬5 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.100.4-5.KJV

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 1 Timothy 4:1‭-‬4 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/1ti.4.1-4.KJV

From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. James 4:1‭-‬2 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/jas.4.1-2.KJV

Thanksgiving Preserves Good  

Have you ever wondered why there is so much “bad” in the world? James in so many words ponders this same conundrum in his book. In James 4:1-2 he answers our question: “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.”

James blames you and me. We, like Adam and Eve, just can’t stand the thought of anyone sitting on the throne of our lives except us. Anyone who threatens our view of the good life is perceived as a threat to our existence. All this fighting for our “rights” originates in our sin nature. The tragic truth is that though we sport the slogan that we “know what’s best for us,” we in all reality do not. Our pursuit of our desires only causes us to kill each other, hate each other, compete with one another, and enslave one another in the service of the “King of ‘I’.”

As you read James’ words today, consider the conflicts in your life, and instead of looking at them with a victim mentality, consider how you’ve contributed your selfish mentality. Consider also the words of Timothy as you study. He is going to note in essence the same thing as James, but he’s going to take it one step further. Not only do our desires seek to “get what they want,” but then we start trying to lord our wants over others. We start to create laws, judgments, and stipulations for people so that they will fit into our ways. This is called religion.

Timothy is not trying to free us up to do whatever we want in the name of thanksgiving, but by thanking the right object—in all cases, God the Creator—we protect ourselves from ourselves. In this study today, consider how thankfulness brings “you” under control, and causes you to begin putting things, people, and circumstances into their proper place. Everything is used rightly when we honor God through thankfulness.