Having A More Thankful Heart …

“… in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

 If you were to take a little journey through the Bible … noting the frequency of the admonition and instruction “to give thanks to God” … you might actually be surprised!

This verse appears in this passage along with several other exhortations (verses 16-18) … and the apostle Paul adds, “for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

Whether we are on the giving or the receiving end, there is something that is beneficial and invigorating about gratitude.

C.S. Lewis had it right when he wrote, “Gratitude exclaims, very properly, ‘How good of God to give me this.’

Gratitude is one of those high-water marks of genuine maturity. If we have not learned how to express our gratitude to God, we will not be able to live after the example of His Son!

Even as a wise and loving earthly father strives to teach … by word and example … how to be more thankful for all the “… gifts God has given to us.” (James 1:17)

Everything God instructs us to do and to be is for our good.

Gratitude flows easily when I set aside time to remember and say, “thanks to the Lord.“Giving thanks” serves to remind us of just how blessed each of us really are!

Here is a good suggestion/admonition for each of us to reflect on and then agree to put into action:  How about we try to focus more on what we do have rather than on what we don’t have but want?

The fact is … life itself comes from the blessings of our God.

Our lives are not always filled with sunshine and happiness … life can be tough … so we learn even in the dark and challenging times how great and good our Heavenly Father really is!

We can be in throes of grief and still be thankful … we can be in a very difficult place health-wise or have problems in our family, yet we can be thankful that He hears … sees … understands … and cares!

That’s a great deal to be thankful for, don’t you think?

I am so very thankful for the words “In the beginning God …”

Happy Thanksgiving!

 Bill Fairchild, Jr.

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