Thank God

from November 2020

God Cares For You

Gò0dNews from the Pastor’s Desk

Thank God!

by Adam Whitescarver

Years ago, I met a joyful older woman who had NOW? In the midst of suffering? THANK GOD? suffered greatly throughout her lifetime. Her How could Rinkart offer gratitude during the tragedy “secret” to remaining joyful? Worship God! I took he endured? I can only attribute this to an intense and her advice to heart and choose to worship God in spite of purposeful obedience to Scriptures like the following: how I might feel sometimes. “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of

Personally, I am a lover of old hymns and have often God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). turned to them in troubled times. During this bizarre season, “Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, one hymn in particular stands out. “Now Thank We All Our because we know that suffering produces perseverance; God” was written by Martin Rinkart in 1637, by far the most perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does this are haunting, and they challenge us to worship God no With countless gifts of love, not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us” (Romans 5:3-5). I want to be someone who rejoices in my sufferings (which are, relatively speaking, quite light) and give thanks in my circumstances because thankfulness and joy are what God wants for me, and I know He wants the best for me. I want perseverance resulting in great character and, out of great character, to be a man of courageous hope. What an upward calling we have in Christ! May we truly pursue it. God give us the grace to be like Martin Rinkart, who had an astounding level of hope and joy in the midst of unspeakable difficulty. God help us to be like the older disastrous year of his life, when his small town of Eilenburg with joy because she maintained a life of worshiping God no experienced war, famine, and plague. Rinkart’s wife died, as matter what came her way. did thousands of his parishioners—with Rinkart conducting Wherever you are, and whatever you are going through, all their funerals. I encourage you to worship with all you have, and I leave

The words to the hymn he composed in the midst of you with the words of Rinkart’s second stanza: matter what: O may this bounteous God Now thank we all our God, With ever joyful hearts with heart and hands and voices, and blessed peace to cheer us; Who wondrous things has done, And keep us in His grace, in Whom this world rejoices; and guide us when perplexed; Who from our mothers’ arms And free us from all ills, has blessed us on our way in this world and the next! woman I met who had suffered intensely but was still filled through all our life be near us, 6 // November 2020 and still is ours today. About The Author Adam Whitescarver is executive director at the Chattanooga House of Prayer (ChattHOP), a non-profit ministry dedicated to growing the local church in prayer, unity, and evangelism. Last year, ChattHOP facilitated over 200 prayer meetings in the metro area, and conducted nearly 100 seminars and retreats on prayer. Adam and his family live in the North Georgia area.

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