You're listening to Encounter, a simple daily podcast of sacred and mindful Christian

meditations.

You can listen here, but if you would enjoy being able to search and favor it, forward

and journal as you listen, I encourage you to download the encountering piece mobile

app where all the meditations are free as they should be.

Have words of gratitude ever sounded hollow during difficult times?

When someone tried to console you with a phrase, well, it's God's will.

In 1 Thessalonians, chapter 5, verse 18, is one of those verses we see on coffee mugs but

don't really take the time to understand.

We think the verse says for us to give thanks for all circumstances, for this is the will

of God and Christ Jesus for you, but it says give thanks in all circumstances.

Not to be grateful for hard times, but be grateful in hard times, and there's a difference

isn't there.

Well, the theme of this meditation from 1 Chronicles, chapter 16, is about gratitude.

Being grateful not for bad times, but in bad times, and not for good times, but in good

times also.

So to begin your meditation, just slip into a time and place where you can be still and

quiet, a place where you can be grateful.

You may start by listening and joining in this responsive reading from Psalm chapter 27

and respond, Lord God, help me be grateful.

Please listen when I pray, have pity, please answer my prayer.

And Lord God, help me be grateful.

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