Since Thanksgiving is coming up, it’s a great time to think about things that we are thankful for. I Thessalonians 4:18 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, make your request known unto God.” Therefore, prayer and thanksgiving should automatically go together. God also tells us to pray without ceasing and be thankful in all things, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus Concerning us (I Thessalonians 5:17-18). Therefore, thanksgiving should be as natural to us as breathing. We need to thank God every chance we get.
Gratitude is so important, but very often overlooked. Because the devil is alive and well on planet earth, there are so many negative things that happen to us daily. So why should we be grateful?
- God says so. Numerous times in the Word, God tells us to be thankful. Psalms 121:5 says, “Oh give thanks unto the Lord for He is good.” Therefore, we need to thank Him out of obedience. When we are obedient, we express our love for Him (John 14:15).
- When you are thankful for what you have, you get more. When the people in your life show you appreciation for what you do for them, don’t you want to shower more upon them? Well, God is the same way. He likes to be appreciated. When you show gratitude for what you receive from your Heavenly Father, He automatically wants to be more generous towards you.
- It gets your focus off of our circumstances and on to God. There will always be negative and positive circumstances in life. You can and must choose which you will focus on. If you choose to focus on the negative, you will become depressed and discouraged. When you focus on the positive aspects of your life, giving God thanks for them, you will maintain your peace and joy. Therefore, gratitude boils down to a matter of focus.Take a look at this Selective Attention Test Video. I think it will support my point.
Let’s make an effort to have an attitude of gratitude. It’s imperative that we focus on the positive things in our lives even while the negative things are going on. If you will master the art of focusing on the good to the exclusion of the bad, the reward will be unspeakable joy that cannot be taken away from you. You will be able to operate on a higher spiritual plane. An attitude of gratitude will give you latitude in your relationship with Christ. Use your eyes of faith and focus on the good in your life. Give God thanks and gratitude this coming Thanksgiving holiday and everyday.
What are you thankful for this Holiday? How has gratitude impacted your life? Leave a comment below.
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