1 of 1

Key Bible Verse: God causes everything to work together for the good … according to his purpose for them (Romans 8:28). Bonus Reading:Philippians 1:12–19

One morning every traffic route was backed up. The cars looked like ants pouring out of ant hills that had been stepped on. I was late for school. How was I going to be thankful for this? "Thank You, Lord, for this trouble," I said—only half meaning the words—"not because it's good, but because You're good and You promise to work it out for good as I trust You."

Then I saw the hitchhiker. I don't pick up hitchhikers usually, but what could I do when traffic was inching along and a young man looks right at you with his thumb out? I stopped and he got in. I began telling him about myself and how I hadn't found any meaning in life until I met God in a personal way. The next thing I knew he said, "I really want to know about God."

If I'd stayed angry with the traffic and let it control my attitude, I might not have picked him up. Only afterward could I really say, "Thank you for delaying me." God had a reason and worked what I considered bad into good. We don't always find out why, but He does have His reasons. Giving thanks, even when you don't feel like it, can help.

—Peter Deison in The Priority of Knowing God

My Response: An apparent bad thing I'll choose to thank God for is …

Thought to Apply: Thanksgiving … opens the generators of the heart to respond gratefully, to receive joyfully, and to react creatively.

—C. Neil Strait (denominational official)

Adapted from The Priority of Knowing God (Kregel, 1990, 2000) by permission.

Copyright © 2002 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

 1 of 1

share this page

Prayer for the Week

Grant me a heart, O Lord, that honors You because it is grateful.

				Try an Issue of Men of Integrity Free! Name Street Address City/State/Zip E-mail Address No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders. If you decide you want to keep Men of Integrity coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless. Give Men of Integrity as a gift Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!

FREE Newsletter Sign up for the Men of Integrity Newsletter (All fields required)    RSS Feed   RSS Help