Thankfulness

 

    Thankfulness is a part of the God culture.  It is having your life in perspective to the big picture.  The first thing people give up when they are focused on their selves is thankfulness for what they have in life.  Thankfulness is a heart condition.  The only way we can be healthy in thankfulness is to know the source of all the blessing you have in your life.

    How to do you reveal your gratitude? How do you show God that you are thankful for your life?  Do you show your true heart to the world?  Thankfulness is a daily dose of thanksgiving.  You may have a general thanksgiving in your heart, but there are days that you don't do so well.  It happens.  Acknowledge it, give it to God, and do better tomorrow.

    Heartfelt thankfulness has a powerful impact on the world around you.  It is seen in your attitude of gratitude.  People are able to see God in your life.  It motivates or convicts the people around you to live for Him or resent you for your joy.  Your life is for God, not people, but we have to serve people to serve God.  Tell anyone who will listen all the good that God has done in your life.  Praise Him openly so that people can see your genuine relationship with God.

    Submit your will to God, even in suffering, and you will have a peace and joy that no one can take away from you.  Put your dependence on God in all aspects of life.  Trust Him even when you do not understand, even when it looks wrong.  Trust that He has a bigger plan than what you can see.

    Essentially thanksgiving comes down to rejoicing in every aspect of life.  It will replace your anxiety with His peace.  It makes you a witness of His goodness.  You become focused on Him instead of your circumstances, so you become energized to serve Him in whatever compacity He calls you.  Thankfulness is about relationships versus activities and gifts.  

    The world is secular.  It is all about what can I get.  God's culture of thankfulness is the opposite of the world's values.  It is about serving people in God's name and following Jesus.  If you want a thankful heart, then you need to take a deep look into your life.  What is important to you?  Do you believe that thankfulness leads to freedom?  Are you grateful in your heart to God?  Do you thank Him for all He does for you or do you take all your blessings for granted?

    Never forget all the good things God does for you like the gift of salvation.  Praise Him for all that you have, your health, mercy, and forgiveness.  Be thankful that He loves you and is as tender with you as He is.  Really take it all in how good God has made your life.  Write down all the good things He has done to help you on the bad days.  

    Let your thankfulness take root into your faith to be strong in your relationship with Jesus.   The truth overflows through your thankfulness.  Find joy in your prayer life, so your thankfulness never runs dry.  Afterall your salvation is eternal.  That truth is unshakable, so worship God in thanksgiving and the proper respect.

Psalm 103:1-5, Isaiah 12:3-6, Colossians 2:6-7, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, & Hebrews 12:28-29