'Thankfulness' To Find Rest For My Soul

And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ's] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always]. (Col. 3:15)

At all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. (Eph. 5:20)

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.
And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:6-7)

All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances]. (Pr. 15:15)

(Emphasis mine)

Obviously there are tons more verses that speak of being thankful and content, these are just the ones the Lord has shown me this week. I believe it to be true that you cannot be both,

thankful and fretful

thankful and anxious

thankful and burdened.

When we take our eyes off of ourselves, our situations and our own thoughts and put them on Jesus and begin to praise and thank Him for all He has done in our lives, the troubles just fade away. Well, to be honest, not the troubles themselves, but how big they seem in our minds. ;-)

No matter what particular 'thing' I am going through with the Lord, it usually, at some point comes back, in some way to my lack of praising and thanking Him. I even think that thanking Him will cause us to grow in our trust of Him!

There are many times in the Psalms that David recounts the acts of the Lord to bring his soul out of the pit!

Why so downcast, O my soul, put your hope in God!

What are some ways that we can practically apply this truth?

One way that I try to practice this is in my quiet time. When I begin writing in my journal, I have gotten into the habit of starting out by thanking Him for anything I can think of.

I often times put 'thankful' verses on notecards and place them all over the house.

Memorizing 'thankful' scriptures.

Practice, practice, practice, being thankful. It really does become a habit, but it needs to be cultivated and practiced.

How about you?

For the rest of the series...

Seeking rest for my soul a weeklong series
Casting to find rest for my soul
Trusting to find rest for my soul

Ceasing anxiety to find rest for my soul

Take My yoke to find rest for my soul