A Grateful Response 感恩
Dexu Xia
[Daniel] prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Daniel 6:10
Raw fish and rainwater. An Australian sailor named Timothy survived on only those provisions for three months. Marooned on his storm-damaged catamaran, he was losing hope—bobbing 1,200 miles from land in the Pacific Ocean. But then the crew of a Mexican tuna boat spotted his ailing boat and rescued him. Later, the thin and weather-beaten man declared, “To the captain and fishing company that saved my life, I’m just so grateful!”
Timothy gave thanks following his ordeal, but the prophet Daniel revealed a grateful heart before, during, and after a crisis. Having been exiled to Babylon from Judah with other Jews (Daniel 1:1-6), Daniel had risen in power only to be threatened by other leaders who wanted him dead (6:1-7). His foes got the king of Babylon to sign a decree stating that anyone who prayed “to any god” would be “thrown into the lions’ den” (v. 7). What would Daniel, a man who loved and served the one true God, do? He “got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to . . . God, just as he had done before” (v. 10). He gave thanks, and his grateful heart was rewarded as God spared his life and brought him honor (vv. 26-28).
As the apostle Paul wrote, may God help us “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Whether we’re facing a crisis or have just come through one, a grateful response honors Him and helps keep our faith afloat. By: Tom Felten
Why is it vital to regularly thank God? How can you grow a more grateful heart?
Dear God, please help me give thanks even when life is hard
[但以理]祷告感谢，与素常一样。—但以理书6章10节
澳大利亚水手提姆驾驶的游艇在太平洋遭受风暴袭击，船只受损，使他在距离陆地约2,000公里的海面上漂流了三个月。在这期间，他仅靠着吃生鱼、喝雨水生存。当他几乎绝望时，一艘墨西哥鲔鱼船的船员发现了他那破损的游艇，才将他救起。后来，瘦弱且饱经风霜的提姆表示：“我实在感激救我一命的船长和渔业公司，真的很感激！”
提姆在经历磨难之后表达感谢，然而，先知但以理却是在危难之前、之中、之后都展露感恩的心。但以理与其他犹太人一起被掳到巴比伦（但以理书1章1-6节），他掌权后却遭其他官员嫉妒，想置他于死地（6章1-7节）。那些官员说服巴比伦王颁布禁令：“不拘何人，若在王以外，或向神或向人求什么，就必扔在狮子坑中”（7节）。那爱上帝又忠心事奉独一真神的但以理，会怎么做呢？他“双膝跪在他上帝面前，祷告感谢，与素常一样”（10节）。但以理感谢上帝，而他感恩的心得到回报，上帝救他脱离险境并使他得尊荣（26-28节）。
正如使徒保罗劝勉众信徒，要“凡事谢恩”（帖撒罗尼迦前书5章18节），愿上帝帮助我们，能够时时感谢上帝。无论我们是正面临危机，还是刚度过危机，当我们感谢上帝，不仅可以荣耀上帝，还能帮助我们继续信靠祂。
作者： 冯得恩
为什么常常感谢上帝至关重要？
你要如何培养一颗充满感恩的心？
亲爱的上帝，请帮助我，即使在生活艰难的时候，仍能凡事谢恩