Be Thankful

Have you ever heard the saying “count your blessings”? Why would someone say something like that to us?  Could it be they were trying to remind us to be thankful and to appreciate all the great things we have in our life? Too often we focus on what is missing in our lives instead of being grateful for what we do have.

The same is true in our relationship with God. Many times, we complain to God about the imperfect circumstances we find ourselves in, the problems we are facing, how things are not good enough, and how things could be better if only this or that was in place.

King David had many opportunities to be unthankful with all the circumstances he faced in his life but in Psalm 103:1-4 (New Living Translation Bible, 1996), he made this very powerful statement

“Let all that I am praise the Lord;
    with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
2 Let all that I am praise the Lord;
    may I never forget the good things he does for me.
3 He forgives all my sins
    and heals all my diseases.
4 He redeems me from death
    and crowns me with love and tender mercies.”

When we operate with the type of short sight-sightedness which is a breeding ground to being unthankful, we forget all the great things God has already provided in our lives. We need to stop and reset by beginning to remind ourselves just as David did what God has done for us. To start with, we can remember He forgives all our sins and heals all our diseases. He redeems us from death and crowns us with love and tender mercies.

I Thessalonians 5:18 (New Living Translation Bible, 1996) tells us to “be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

How do we change our attitude from unthankful to thankful. One way is by reminding oursleves of all the great things God has done and is doing in our lives. Another way could be by placing our focus on the postive things that are occuring in our lives and not placing so much emphasis on the negitive issues and crisis that seem to quickly take center stage through worry and stress. This is where we see the glass half empty insted of half full. Then just stop and take a moment to breathe and thank God by telling Him how much you appreciate everything He does for you. By doing these easy and simple steps it will begin to create a heart change in you. A thankful heart and ss you say thank you it will also help you to never forget all the good things Our Heavenly Father is doing and has done for you.

References

New Living Translation Bible. (1996). New Living Translation Online. https://www.biblegateway.com/