Thanking God Constantly

How exactly do you do that?  I'm not completely sure, it's like the Scripture "praying without ceasing" (or stopping) 1 Thessalonians 5:17.  If you've ever struggled with perfection or legalism, you wondered how to pray all the time.  Our mentors and pastors always assured us "be in an attitude of prayer"....My conclusion today is that it is a work of the Spirit.  Paul alluded to this in Romans 8:26.  In the passage that I'm reading today, this idea of thanking God constantly was burned into my mind, I think, by the Spirit.  Today @ Bethel, we heard of one offering going to one of our Sunday School teachers, (going on a missions trip summer) and they were so thankful.  An hour later, another family (Sunday School teacher, children's pastor, worship team member, and youth) who is going on a missions trip stepped into my office and declared with joy:  "We have raised everything we need".  To God Be the Glory!!!!  Why?  Not just for faithful vessels willing to be used of God, but a giving church (and others who don't go to our church) that are sensitive to the Lord and make provision for His people.  There is a lost world and its a beautiful site when the church and the workers both testify to the grand provision of God!  I think the songwriter was right on when he said "I long so much, to feel the touch, of His consuming power, to be used of God! It's my desire".  So then I ran across this verse and wanted to encourage you today to stop, look around and thank God for His faithfulness....in your church, in your family, and the WORK He has called us to!  The KEY is in the attitude present in this verse.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 (ESV)

¹³ And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

To God Be the Glory! Bethel is a serving, giving, and growing Church.