God has really been working on me lately, in the area of thankful thoughts.
“How can I be thankful when there’s so much to be done that I don’t want to do?” I often struggle to think thankful thoughts.
Have you been there? Am I the only one who has dreaded the holidays because of the duties, tasks, expenses, and expectations? I’ve often struggled with spending so much on food we eat once a year, even if we don’t like it, because we’re supposed to, because everyone else does, or because we just always have. There are many who do without during the holidays while others indulge in extravagance. It’s bothered me over the years. Who’s helping those families have reasons to be thankful? I’ve also watched families gather out of obligation, because it’s the holidays, with people they only see or hear from once a year. That’s not Thanks giving. It’s forced togetherness, with way too much food.
Are We Thankful?
The word thankfulness denotes a heart posture of being filled with thanks. To be thankful is to be full of thanks. If I am truly full of something, nothing else will fit in that space.
What do your thankful thoughts look like, this time of year? Consider a Thanksgiving meal. The primary question is “What are you thankful for?” I don’t know about your family’s answers, but I’ve often heard (and said) things. We are thankful for a new job, a safe home, a family, an answered prayer, financial blessings, and other tangible blessings. I’m not saying we shouldn’t be thankful for those things. Being thankful keeps us thankful. However, do these ideas block my thankfulness?
Does this mean we can’t be thankful if we don’t have things? If the family never happens, if the blessings are elusive, or if the prayers remain unanswered, is thankfulness even possible? Perhaps, herein lies the problem. Maybe my thoughts are less than thankful because my perspective is skewed.
Although I certainly do not always do it perfectly, I try to look for God’s perspective. It occurred to me this week, I’ve been missing the mark. How often do we seek gifts over the Giver? Do we focus so much on receiving blessings that we miss the Blesser or miss the chance to BE the blessing?
Give Thanks!
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good.
His faithful love endures forever.
Psalm 107:1
Within these fourteen simple words lies the answer we need! We are to give thanks to God simply because He is God. He is good. He is everything good. His love is faithful, unchanging, and unending. He doesn’t have to give us anything else for Him to be good. He created all of heaven and earth, and then He sent His SON to save us. Jesus gave His very life for us. If He never gave us another thing (which He will, because that is His nature), the gift of salvation was enough.
To give something means to bestow it on someone. When we give God thanks, we hand it to Him. We give praise and thanksgiving in appreciation of who God is.
Be Thankful!
Always be thankful.
Colossians 3:15
Thankful thoughts shouldn’t just coincide with the fourth Thursday of November. According to this verse, thankfulness should be a perpetual state of being for those who profess faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior. Thankfulness shouldn’t be something we do once a year. Thankful thoughts should permeate our lives. They should be our default setting, even when life is dark or difficult.
Thank you, God, that you are God.
Thank you, God, for all of creation.
Thank you, God, for loving me, even when I was far away.
Thank you, God, for sending your Son.
Thank you, Jesus, for giving your life on the cross for me.
Thank you that your love never fails or gives up on me.
Thank you that you never leave or forsake me.
Thank you for being Lord of Lords, King of Kings, and the Prince of Peace.
Thank you for collecting my tears in a bottle.
Thank you for being the Lifter of my head and the God of all comfort.
Thank you for being with me during every moment and season of my life.
Thank you for being more than enough for every situation I might ever face.
Thank you for training me to have thankful thoughts. Help me allow them to dominate my mind.
In Jesus’ name, amen!
I’ve created a special printable just for you of thankful thoughts verses and reminders for your heart. Post it in a prominent place and be reminded of its truths.