When was the last time we thought about all the blessings God has given us? When did we last pause to remember all the things we have to be thankful for? It is easy to get so focused on the things we don’t like about our lives that we lose sight of all the good things around us. Sometimes we complain a lot more than we give thanks, and it shows in our attitudes toward others. We usually think of Thanksgiving as the time to count our blessings, but we should get into the habit of giving thanks year round! God is just as faithful in July as He is in November! Why not take a few moments now and think of all He’s given you?
Allow me to go first: I have a wonderful family, supportive friends, and opportunities for sweet fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ. I have rejoiced in fields of brightly colored wildflowers, had my heart melted by a soft, fluffy kitten, and felt the peaceful stillness of a misty forest morning. I have savored books that deepened my walk with God. I have failed when I expected to succeed, and it made me a stronger person. Above all, Jesus Christ died in my place and defeated death through the resurrection, giving me the right to call God my Abba, my Daddy, and to come to Him as His precious child. And this is only the tip of the iceberg. If I were to list everything I have to be thankful for, this article would turn into a book!
Hopefully I’ve “primed the pump” for you, and gotten your mind going in a thankful direction. You may want to write down the blessings that come to mind. Even the poorest among us could list a myriad of things, because God’s blessings come free of charge! When you are discouraged, or when everything seems to be going wrong, read through your list again, reminding yourself of your own motivations for giving thanks. As we make a habit of focusing on the positive, our outlook on life can’t help but grow brighter, and the people around us will notice the difference. Happy “thanks-giving!”
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