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We should always keep thankfulness at the center of our being. No matte
what we go through, no matter the setbacks, no matter the shortfalls, we
still have the ability to be thankful. We can be thankful for our health,
for our family, for the faithfulness of God who has promised to never
leave us nor forsake us and we can simply be thankful that we are alive to
see this beautiful day. Why should we rename in a thankful state of mind?
I firmly believe that a thankful heart is a grateful heart and a grateful
heart pleases the Lord because He sees that we are appreciative for all
that He has graciously given to us. A grateful heart is also a contented
heart because that one believes that God shall supply all of their needs
according to His riches in Glory. (Hebrews 13:5-6) (Philippians 4:19)
There are many people in this world who have their needs met, but they
still aren't thankful for their life. Instead of giving God thanks for
their abundance, they foolishly murmur and complain about the temporary
trial that they are finding too difficult to overcome. What they fail to
realize is that the good in their life greatly outweighs the bad and by
constantly complaining about how tough things are for them right now, they
miss the opportunity to bless God for His favor, His mercy, His grace and
His sustenance that has kept them alive to see this beautiful day. Being
alive in itself is a privilege that we don't give thanks for nearly enough.
We should wake up each morning and say “Thank you Lord for the honor of
allowing me to see another one of Your glorious days.” No matter the
trials that we go through and no matter the obstacles that are in our
path, we can focus on what we do have in our life and be thankful for it.
(Proverbs 17:22)
I would like to ask if you appreciate your life and do you give God thanks
for it? Do you say thank you Lord each morning that you awake? Are you
appreciative for all the gifts and blessings that God has graciously
bestowed upon your life? If you answered no to any one of these simple
questions, I would like for you to imagine this scenario that will show
you how much you have to be thankful for and help you realize how blessed
you really are.
Imagine going to your doctor for your yearly checkup and after taking a
blood test and examining your general health, the Doctor comes into the
room and tells you that he has some alarming news. Your blood test came
back as abnormal and you may have a rare type of leukemia that is found in
a very small percentage of people diagnosed with this disease. The doctor
can't be sure exactly without running further tests and they should have a
much clearer diagnosis within two weeks. Now upon hearing this news your
life has a completely different perspective. Everything that was so
troublesome and discouraging now seems frivolous and unimportant by
comparison. You begin numbering your days and thinking of what is most
important in life.
The next day you wake up eager to appreciate the simple things. The
laughter of your family, the beauty of the sky, the breeze of the cool
summer air that passes by your face. You look up into the night sky for
the first time in a long time and you see the beauty that was there for
you all along. You enjoy and relish the meal that you are eating and you
take each bite on purpose and you feel as if you are eating that meal for
the very first time. You look at things that you have seen countless
times before and you see the beauty in them for the very first time. You
don't get angry as easily as you did before. You wish to forgive that one
that did something wrong against you that you had refused to forgive
before. You see your life from a completely different perspective and you
begin to see how short and fleeting life really is. The things you once
took for granted now have a more special meaning to you. You begin to
wonder more about God and His purpose in things. You wish you were more
sensitive to His voice and followed His leading much more than you did in
times past.
Two weeks later you meet with your doctor again after having time to run
more tests and amazingly he tells you that it's not leukemia, but a mild
blood disease that can be fixed with antibiotics. Now realizing that you
don't actually have that rare form of leukemia how thankful would you be?
How thankful would you be for your life knowing that you are healthy and
whole? How grateful would you be that you don't have to go through the
chemotherapy in hopes of getting better through that debilitating medicine?
You would feel as if you had won the lottery or have been given a special
gift when in reality you have the same life that you had before, but now
you see it with refreshed eyes. You appreciate the simple things more.
You will be quick to forgive an offense and even quicker to give God thanks
for His grace, His mercy and His love for you.
Let us recognize how blessed we really are. Let us give thanks for our
life right now and not have to go through a terrible trial in order for us
to appreciate the gift of our life. If you are a constant complainer, I
pray that you take this message to heart and see how much you have to be
thankful for. Make it a mission to cease your complaints and replace them
with thanksgiving and gratitude because the good in your life greatly
outweighs any bad by comparison. See that you are blessed and highly
favored and with your whole heart let God know that you appreciate every
gift that is in your life. Always remember and keep in mind that a
thankful heart will be a grateful heart and a grateful heart will be a
contented heart. It all starts with Thanksgiving. (Psalm 139:14-18)
Praise the Lord!
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Psalm 103:2-5 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems
your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender
mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is
renewed like the eagle's.”
Philippians 4:4-7 “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious
for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of
God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus.”
Psalm 100:1-5 “Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the
Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the
Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are
His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with
thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and
bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His
truth endures to all generations.”
Psalm 34:1-4 “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall
continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The
humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let
us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And
delivered me from all my fears.”
1 Chronicles 16:8-12 “Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make
known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk
of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those
rejoice who seek the Lord! Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face
evermore! Remember His marvelous works which He has done...”
Psalm 121:5-8 “The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your
right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night.
The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul.
The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time
forth, and even forevermore.”
Psalm 111:1-5 “Praise the Lord! I will praise the Lord with my whole heart,
In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation. The works of the
Lord are great, Studied by all who have pleasure in them. His work is
honorable and glorious, And His righteousness endures forever. He has made
His wonderful works to be remembered; The Lord is gracious and full of
compassion. He has given food to those who fear Him; He will ever be
mindful of His covenant.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the New King James Version Bible.
Today's Selected Poem: GOOD THINGS TO REMEMBER
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem129.htm
Today's Selected Testimony: GOD'S GRACE AND MERCY
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony1.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
