THANKS TO GOD by Rich Zimmerman

I was recently reminded of a great secret to the Christian life and I want to remind you of it:

Giving thanks to God makes a huge difference in how life unfolds.

I cannot entirely explain why this is so. But I have noticed . . .

When I am tempted, giving thanks to God for what I have been given breaks the power of temptation.

When I am in doubt, giving thanks to God builds my faith.

When I am feeling sorry for myself, giving thanks to God takes my mind off of myself.

When I am tired, giving thanks to God renews my strength.

When I am overwhelmed, giving thanks to God puts my life back into perspective.

Giving thanks to God is not simply ignoring the pain or problems in our lives. Giving thanks to God is not merely positive thinking or a mental attitude adjustment.

We are given a great example in some of Jesus' words on the cross. Being crucified is not the kind of problem that can be overcome by the power of positive thinking. Jesus prays Psalm 22 which Matthew and Mark record for us by quoting in Aramaic, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" It helps to look at the first 5 verses of Psalm 22 to see what Jesus was really saying.

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our ancestors trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried, and were saved; in you they trusted, and were not put to shame."

Jesus praises God at the moment of his greatest fear, doubt, temptation, potential self-pity, tiredness, and threat of being overwhelmed. I know that I cannot live up to the example of Jesus. But every once in a while I do remember to praise God in those moments, and it has a transforming effect on my whole self.

Jesus knew the psalms well enough to blurt out Psalm 22 when he needed it. I am going to devote myself to learning and using the psalms in times of both joy and sorrow.

In Christ,