AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE PRODUCES LATITUDE

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?

1. 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).
2. 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.
3. 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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DR. MYLES MUNROE ENCOURAGED US TO DIE EMPTY!

Image courtesy of John Kasawa freedigitalphoto.net

I was deeply saddened when I heard that Dr. Myles Munroe, his wife, Ruth, and their traveling companions had gone home to be with the Lord after being involved in a plane crash in the Bahamas. We have truly lost a general in the faith who will be sorely missed. In light of the fact that Dr. Munroe has passed, it serves as a reminder that tomorrow is not promised to any of us. God could call us home at any time. Therefore, we need to be about our Father’s business. That means whatever gifts and talents He has placed in us, we need to do our best to get them out to the world to glorify God as quickly as we can. We need to move in the timing of the Holy Spirit without delay because, as Mike Murdock once said, “Delayed obedience is rebellion.”

Dr. Munroe said in an interview with Jeff Koinage of the JKL Show, “I want to challenge every[one] to go to the cemetery and disappoint the graveyard. Die like the Apostle Paul who said I have finished my course, I have kept the faith and I have been poured out like a drink offering. There is nothing left. I am ready to die. That’s how I wanna die.” He continued, “When you die, die like I am planning to die. Empty.” (http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000140968/motivational-speaker-dr-myles-munroe-who-spoke-of-his-death-at-jkl-show-dies).

That being said, I’d like to share a poem I wrote that expresses Dr. Munroe’s sentiments entitled, Die Empty. I want to encourage you to do what is necessary to make sure you get all of your gifts and talents that God deposited in you out to the world and refuse to die with untapped potential. To let your gifts lie dormant in you and not ever be used to help others or glorify God is a tragedy. Therefore, you must do your best to “leave it all on the field for Christ” and die empty!  I hope this poem encourages, uplifts and inspires you to empty yourself of all that God has deposited in you. Be blessed!

DIE EMPTY

I am determined to die empty,

Every gift, every talent God has placed in me,

Will be used for His eternal glory,

I am destined to live victoriously.

I’ll pour myself out like a drink offering,

I’ll overcome any obstacle that Satan brings,

In my heart, sing a song of thanksgiving,

As I accomplish my goals, God’s praises I’ll sing.

The battle may be fierce and hot,

But I will not succumb to Satan’s plot.

I will give it everything I’ve got,

Mediocrity will never be my lot.

My life will count, you wait and see,

I will not accept “what will be, will be.”

Everything God put in will come out of me,

I’ll live Spirit filled, but I’ll die empty.

 

Copyright 2013 by Tracey L. Moore

Taken from my book, Oasis for My Soul: Poems and Inspirational Writings for Spiritual Growth 

 

What dreams and visions has God put in your heart that you must pursue? Leave a comment below.

 

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TELL GOD SOMETHING GOOD BY MAINTAINING YOUR PEACE

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles freedigitalphotos.net

We are constantly communicating to God. Even when we think we are not saying anything, we are speaking volumes to the Father. For example, when we obey God, we tell Him we love Him. When we spend time with Him on a daily basis, we tell him we value Him. When we ignore the promptings of the Holy Spirit, we tell Him our agenda is more important than His agenda.

Likewise, when you get upset about your circumstances, you communicate to Him as well. There are so many things that happen on a day to day basis to get upset about. Joyce Meyer says that “the devil sets us up to get upset.” However, when you stay peaceful in the midst of difficult circumstances and refuse to get upset, you communicate the following to God:

1. “I believe You are in complete control of my situation.”  If God is in control, He is orchestrating your circumstances. Even if they are unpleasant, He has a purpose and a plan for them. Therefore, remember that God is trying to impact your life through what you are experiencing. If you forget that, your negative emotional state will surely escalate.

2. “I trust You wholeheartedly.”  If you can just maintain a peaceful state in spite of what is going on in your life, that’s the one of the most significant ways that you can communicate to God that you trust Him. Trust means you believe that He is taking care of the situation. You trust Him to work the situation out. You trust that He has your best interest at heart and a positive outcome is destined to ensue in spite of what you see in the natural. Therefore, remember how trustworthy God is and that will help you to refrain from getting upset.

3. “I yield to Your will and Your timing. “ If you allow the devil to get you upset because things aren’t going your way, as Jesus told the apostle Paul, “It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks” (Acts 9:5). You are fighting against His will and His timing. Your negative behavior and emotions tell Him, “I want my way, not Your way.”  You communicate, “My way/timing is better than Yours.” However, when we catch ourselves and make an effort to maintain our peace, we defer to God’s wisdom and sovereignty.

I don’t know about you, but I want to tell God something good. Therefore, let’s make an effort to have our attitudes and actions speak loudly and relay that we understand that He’s sovereign, we trust Him, and we yield to whatever He wants to do, whenever He wants to do it. He needs to hear that His will and desires trump our own will and our desires. If that is true, then we must avoid getting upset at all costs and work diligently to maintain our peace. That’s the best way to communicate to God in a loving way how much He is reverenced and appreciated.

I must admit, I am not completely there yet. I have some work to do. I want to continue, however, to do what is necessary to grow to new levels in my faith so that I don’t keep falling for the devil’s ploy to get me upset. I labor to enter into the rest of God so that He receives a communication of my faith and trust, not my lack of faith and mistrust. What do you want to say to God today?

How do you maintain your peace and keep positive communication flowing toward God? Leave a comment below.

Would you like to receive your FREE e-chapbook entitled, Your Faith Has Made You Whole:  Poems and Inspirational Writings for Spiritual Transformation, by Tracey L. Moore? Go to www.traceylmoore.com and subscribe to the email list.

Find me on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/TraceyLMoore2012

Follow me on Twitter:  @TraceyLMoore1

Visit my blog: www.traceylmoore.wordpress.com

Take a trip down a spiritually poetic trail, and dare to become your best for Christ.