"...As your days, so shall your strength be." Deut. 33:25
Do you ever fret about the future? Are you troubled about tomorrow? Do you see storms on the horizon that you don't have the strength to face today? Well, understand, God hasn't given you strength to meet tomorrow - He has given you strength for today. However, when tomorrow becomes today you will discover that you have strength enough for that day too.
"...So that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord." Acts 3:19
There is an important word here that has escaped most commentators, and that elusive word is "from." What Peter wants is not just a refreshing of Christ's presence in his life. He desires that the person of Christ be the center from which all refreshment radiates. It is a radiance that refreshes even those things that are unrefreshing. What Peter prays for is the giving of a glory to things which are not naturally or normally glorious.
"saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." Matthew 2:2
"His star" was a thing that the natural world had no use for. To such a secular world it served no practical purpose. It was unnecessary as far as natural need was concerned and thus there was no place for it in nature's night sky. That why the wise men knew it had to be supernatural. "Since His star gives no obvious help to this world," they reasoned that "it must have a function in another world."
"In everything give thanks. . ." 1st Thessalonians 5:18
It's hard to imagine many things which would be more difficult than the simple command that Paul gives in this first letter to the Thessalonians. Is he saying that I am to thank God for everything? Am I to thank God when I am diagnosed with cancer? Am I supposed to thank Him when a loved one dies? Am I supposed to be thankful when I am hurt, facing financial ruin or just dealing with the daily drudgery of life? I do believe that there will come a day when I will thank Him - that is an act of faith. But am I to turn that faith into fruition? Am I commanded to celebrate the victory before the battle? Must I raise my hands at the funeral of my friend and say, "Thank you Lord for taking the life of my friend?" Is that even possible? Is it human? Is that even something that we would or should desire?
"It is good to give thanks to the LORD..." Psalm 92:1
The Psalmist says that gratitude, giving thanks, is a "good thing." It is a blessing and benefit to the mind of man which helps to prevent some dreadful diseases. For example, thanksgiving helps with the pain of a remorseful memory. Don't confuse this with a remorseful conscience because that comes from having done something wrong. A remorseful memory isn't the pain that comes from a failure to do right, but rather it is pain that comes from the failure of enjoying the blessings of life.