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Daily Devotional – June 6

A prescription

A Christian is called to be thankful:

Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Two primary barriers to gratitude are:

Immaturity- Babies and young children are self-centered and rarely thankful, but gratitude is an expectation of maturity.

Pride – The proud frame their thoughts in "rights" and what they deserve. They never reach a level of contentment because they are always entitled to more.

Complaining, depression, envy, disontent, sadness and many more symptoms in our lives can be the simple product of our failure to be thankful.

Want a prescription for what ails you? Try taking two thank-yous and call me in the morning.

June 6, 2006 - Posted by bereans | Daily Devotional | | 15 Comments

15 Comments »

  1. Good morning Jack. There is one statement here that is just plain false. Depression is not “a simple product of [one’s} failure to be thankful” like complaining, envy, discontent, and sadness are. It is a serious medical condition ( see WebMD for various types of depression http://www.webmd.com/search/search_results/default.aspx?query=depression&x=33&y=10). To state otherwise is extremely insensitive toward those Christians who battle this condition every day.

    Comment by Helen Losse | June 6, 2006 | Reply

  2. Hi Helen!

    Not saying that all types of depression (or sadness, etc.) are symptoms of not being thankful. Just that some can be :)

    Should not have been so absolute in my statement. (Edited it–and thanks for pointing it out:)

    I have dealt with hundreds of cases of depression and will post some thoughts concerning this epidemic.

    -j

    Comment by bereans | June 6, 2006 | Reply

  3. Thanks Jack. I seem to attract bi-polar friends, some of whom are fervent Christians. For me happiness is a choice. Either I choose to wallow in sadness, anger, etc. or I choose to get over it. Thank heaven my mother told us about this choice when I was a child. In the main, I choose happiness. But that is not the case for these people, who suffer the depression and insults, also.

    Comment by Helen Losse | June 6, 2006 | Reply

  4. Know what hexakosioihexekontaheyaphobia means? :)

    Comment by Shirley | June 6, 2006 | Reply

  5. Helen, we’ll definitely talk more on this subject!

    Shirley, I have NO idea! You got me on that one :)

    -j

    Comment by bereans | June 6, 2006 | Reply

  6. I have tried three times–previously and unsuccessfully–to leave this comment. Wordpess has yelled at me twice for leaving the same message, although, as you can see, it isn’t here yet.

    An example of what I’m talking about is at http://www.lifetimeontheride.blogspot.com/ Read “Maybe I am preaching to the choir on this one??” first. The read Mandylea’s “Disclaimer.” Reminds me of Henri Nouwen’s “wounded healer.”

    Comment by Helen Losse | June 7, 2006 | Reply

  7. I think, in my plain-spoken ways, that this was what I was trying to say, Helen :) Thanks for sharing!

    -j

    Comment by bereans | June 7, 2006 | Reply

  8. Good. Because it cruel to tell people to try harder when they are trying as hard as they can. And you are no more a medical doctor than I am. :)

    Comment by Helen Losse | June 7, 2006 | Reply

  9. Jeez Jack thought you were going Tom Cruise on us for a sec. (totally kidding) I used to deal with a lot of anxiety and some minor depression. Especially when I got out of rehab. Chemicals all gone haywire I guess. What I have found is that the meds they gave me kept me grounded till I gradually replaced them with my higher power Jesus Christ. When I get those feelings now… I am speaking only for myself, I am usually not doing something right spiritually. Prayer, bible study, following my steps etc. God made us all in such a variety. Who else to help someone with ocd and depression than someone with ocd and depression?

    Larry

    Comment by Larry | June 7, 2006 | Reply

  10. Hi Helen & Larry!

    Will be back to comment further. Am called away today, but will be back tomorrow.

    Blessed day to you both!

    -j

    Comment by bereans | June 7, 2006 | Reply

  11. Henri Nouwen’s Message for today seemed right on topic.

    Joint Heirs with Christ

    In and through Jesus we come to know God as a powerless God, who becomes dependent on us. But it is precisely in this powerlessness that God’s power reveals itself. This is not the power that controls, dictates, and commands. It is the power that heals, reconciles, and unites. It is the power of the Spirit. When Jesus appeared people wanted to be close to him and touch him because “power came out of him” (Luke 6:19).

    It is this power of the divine Spirit that Jesus wants to give us. The Spirit indeed empowers us and allows us to be healing presences. When we are filled with that Spirit, we cannot be other than healers.

    Comment by Helen Losse | June 7, 2006 | Reply

  12. Enjoyed this post. Thankfulness can definitely cure a lot that ails our spirits. I read a book to my kids a few years ago called Pollyanna. Pollyanna, the main character was taught by her father to play the “thankful game.” In this game, she would try to find something to be thankful for, even in unpleasant situations. It’s really a great book, and I can’t do it justice here but just wanted to mention it.

    Blessings,
    Carol

    Comment by writeathome | June 8, 2006 | Reply

  13. Carol,

    Make sure you check out the Disney movie “Pollyana” also. It is a blessing.

    -j

    Comment by bereans | June 9, 2006 | Reply

  14. Hello, Your site is great. Regards, Valintino Guxxi

    Comment by Anonymous | May 5, 2007 | Reply

  15. classica

    Comment by Jak | August 12, 2009 | Reply


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