Praise and Thanksgiving

 

Throughout our lives, we will all experience both suffering and joy. We'll have times of great grief and times of overwhelming happiness. Sometimes, these experiences will happen in separate seasons. But at other times, they will merge at the same time.

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In either case, James expected Christians to come to God. If someone was suffering, prayer was the call to action. If someone was cheerful, praise was the clear next step.

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This might seem obvious, but when suffering clouds our thinking, we can sometimes forget to prioritize prayer. And when things are going well and life is good at the moment, it’s easy to just enjoy the season and not stop to praise God. But every season of life is an opportunity to put into practice what James wrote about… 

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When we are suffering, let us pray. When those around us are suffering, let us pray. When we are feeling blessed or cheerful, let us thank God. When others are happy, let us praise God and celebrate with them.

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In every circumstance or situation, let’s remember to take both our prayer and praise to God. When we do that, we keep our eyes on Jesus, and He helps us endure every situation we face.

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So, what are you facing right now? Take a moment to pray to God and tell Him all you’re going through. Then, reflect on the good things happening in your life, and praise Him for who He is!   (Reference:  James 5)