As we get closer and closer to the holidays, we are conditioned to acknowledge that this is the time to be grateful. However, it is always a great occasion to give thanks to God. Thankfulness should be a lifestyle of a believer. Now…I can’t speak for you but I know if it wasn’t for the grace and mercy of God I would not be here today. So always remember, when you got it bad, someone out there got it way worse. And though things may not be perfect, we can just try to refocus our thinking on God’s goodness. When we do that, the world looks brand new. There are three main reasons why we should remain thankful.
Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].
1 Thessalonians 5:18 AMPC
The first reason is…THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD! God wants us to thank God in everything. The reality is this is not the easiest thing to do when things are going so well. This year was very challenging. I experienced loved ones in the hospital and the death of a family member in 2 months. In times like that it is very very easy to complain and in some cases even be angry with God. However, God never stated that we wouldn’t go through difficult things. He did promise that we wouldn’t have to go through it alone. We must choose thankfulness in those moments of great adversity. There is always something to be grateful about. Ask God to change how you see things during hardship. When you filter your perspective through your emotions, you will miss God’s will. Let’s look at Jesus when He was faced with great turmoil, knowing He was about to suffer and die for all of humanity.
He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.
Luke 22:41-44
Jesus teaches us the correct posture of our hearts even when we are in agony. When your heart’s posture is to want the will of God, He will show you the bigger picture.
The next reason is that God is good! He is awesome and He has done so much for me. It doesn’t matter what I face in life, it’s nothing compared to what Jesus has done for me. Period. Not only did Jesus die on the cross, and resurrect from the dead to make us right with God, but He gave me new life. Through the leading of the Holy Spirit, I get to walk and commune with God. And He didn’t stop there. From that relationship with Him, I can live an abundant life and live a life on purpose for Jesus. I get to be a part of His family by bringing His Kingdom down to earth. And He didn’t stop there. He also forgives me when I mess up and bestows mercy in the time I need it. He continues to love me despite all my flaws every single day. Can you imagine this? This is the King of kings and the Lord of lords I’m talking about. His love alone deserves a “thank you”. It’s so much more I can say but you can see that it doesn’t take much to start thanking God. If you are having a rough day, just start with one thing you can thank God for. Before you know it, you’ll be on a roll.
“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.”
Psalms 100:4 NKJV
Lastly, I will say, that there is no quicker way to dry up your harvest than complaining. The third reason why we should remain thankful is because it is the perfect alternative to murmuring. Thanking God for what you have now and for what you are believing for is one of the keys to more. Jeremiah 30:19 states; “Then out of them shall proceed thanksgiving. And the voice of those who make merry;I will multiply them, and they shall not diminish; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.” When my daughter expresses gratitude, it moves my hand to give even more. I believe it is the same way with our Heavenly Father. I also believe it works the opposite way. When we complain, it hinders us from seeing God’s best for our lives. This reminds me of the Israelites in the wilderness.
And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me. Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you: The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above. Except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun, you shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in.
Number 14:26-30
If you are too busy thanking God, you have no time for all that stinky thinking. Gratefulness is a mindset. When you express that gratitude toward God it shifts your emotions and attitude and it shifts your life! Complaining stems from the root of unbelief. Thankfulness buds from the root of faith and trusting in God. It also paves a way for us to experience more and more of God’s promises.
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