8 Evidences I’m Not as Grateful as I Thought I Was

By Chuck Lawless

This past Thanksgiving week, I spent some time with believers who have lived in an impoverished, risky place in the world. Their faith deeply challenged me—especially their thankful hearts. Even though I heard their stories only through translation, their gratitude put my “thanksgiving” to shame. Here are my reflections:

1. I too often tie my value to what I have gained more than to what God has done for me. When you have very little, though, you learn the value of prioritizing a relationship with your Creator.
2. I take for granted what others consider to be incredible blessings. When other believers from around the world are astounded at the number of food options we have available in our grocery stories, you can’t help but take a good look at your heart.
3. I’m not convinced others see undeniable joy in me just because God has saved me. I hope I’m wrong, but I’m not sure. I am certain my joy is not as apparent as that of my new friends I met this past week.
4. I far too easily get stressed by hardships—rather than thank God for what they teach me.Frankly, I’m amazed by how quickly I get frustrated at little things after hearing the stories of these other believers who deal with much weightier matters.
5. My faith costs me very little, but I’ve not often expressed thanksgiving for God’s ongoing care and protection. The only reason I’ve not faced what other believers have faced is that God has graciously granted provision and shelter. I have much reason to say, “Thank you.”
6. I might talk about God’s gift to allow me to preach the Word without fear of persecution, but my gratitude is probably only surface level. I typically think otherwise—but that thinking changes when I meet believers who proclaim the Word in spite of real opposition. 
7. I have failed to say “thank you” enough when I open the Word in my language and in my hands—and when I get to hear others preach in my mother tongue. Even as I write this post, I’m convicted of my need to truly recognize these blessings other brothers and sisters don’t always have.
8. I tend to give out of my excess rather than out of genuine sacrifice. My friends who’ve had very little actually brought us gifts this past week. That’s humbling.

What about you? In what ways do you recognize your need to be more grateful?

Comment? https://chucklawless.com/2021/11/8-evidences-im-not-as-grateful-as-i-thought-i-was/

Gratitude Attitude

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18  If you enjoy seeing science validate the teachings of Scripture, search for “health benefits of gratitude” on the Internet. Links to study after study will appear, describing the health benefits—physical health as well as emotional health—of living with an “attitude of gratitude.” What is the biblical teaching on gratitude? Paul says it succinctly: “In everything give thanks; for this [along with rejoicing and praying] is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

The most important thing to notice about Paul’s words is that he doesn’t say to give thanks for everything, but in everything. Paul wouldn’t expect us to give thanks for some painful event or an evil person’s actions in our life or in the world. Rather, we can be thankful that God is sovereign over everything, that God can cause all things to work together for our good when we belong to Him. We can be grateful in every circumstance because God will use it to conform us to the image of Christ (Romans 8:28-29). Try it today. Be grateful to God in every circumstance and take note of the difference it makes in your life. I give it as my testimony that there is a marvelous therapy in thanksgiving. John Blanchard   -David Jeremiah

9 Things to Thank God for Tomorrow (and Today)

By Chuck Lawless

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day in the United States. If your family expresses gratitude together at some point during the day, consider including these reasons to be grateful in your prayer list:

1. That we have access to the entirety of God’s Word in our language. Much of the world has no such blessing.
2. That God has saved us and made us His children. With 4 billion+ persons in the world with little or no access to the gospel, we cannot take this gift for granted.
3. That He sent someone across our path to introduce us to the gospel. My “someone” was a seventh-grade classmate who spoke truth to me more than 45 years ago—and every year I’m more grateful for him.
4. That many of us will have more to eat tomorrow in a single meal than some people will have all day. We’re so accustomed to being almost gluttonous that we fail to see God’s blessings of abundant provision.
5. That, at least for now, we can teach the Word openly without fear of persecution. Again, many believers around the world are not so blessed. They’re faithful anyway, but their faith often costs them much.
6. That He has called out pastors to lead us. I’m convinced that God calls our pastors with a divine calling, and He raises them up to care for our souls.
7. That He works through the most difficult times we face to conform us to the image of His Son. He works through our struggles to remind us that he is the strength in our weakness—and that His grace is sufficient for us (2 Cor 12). Gratitude in everything is evidence that God is working in us.
8. That He gives us a church family. They might at times be difficult, but they’re still family. They’re still our brothers and sisters in Christ.
9. That God is sovereignly in control of a world that seems out of control. I don’t know about you, but I’m even more grateful for that truth after the last 18 months of COVID.

What would you add to this list?

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A Key Component Of Thankfulness: Joy

~ Jonathan Smith

This time of year we tend to focus on thankfulness, and for good reason. November is when we celebrate Thanksgiving. Our gratitude should then spill over into the December season of giving and rejoicing as we celebrate our Savior’s birth. Sometimes though we leave out a key component of thankfulness: joy.

It is easy to be thankful without any joy. Most would say they are thankful to live in a free nation like ours but are quick to complain about our government and elected officials. Joyful thankfulness is grateful, but also content with the blessings and will of the Lord — even when we don’t get our way.

Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” Part of doing good is doing it with joyful thankfulness. Often times we grow weary. Things at work are hard. Ministry is difficult. Our boss is unreasonable. Our children are challenging. Our candidate didn’t win. Our health isn’t good. Our schedule is crazy. Hard times abound.

The Bible talks a lot about thankfulness, it also talks a lot about why we should be thankful.

What He Did

I don’t think it is an accident our calendars have us celebrating Thanksgiving before Christmas. If you focus on what Jesus went through so we could have eternal life and you’ll find it hard to be joylessly unthankful. Jesus left the Father, came to earth as a man, died, and rose again all for us. On our worst day, none of us are facing that. Focusing on what He did for you will help you focus on the right thing, with thankfulness and joy.

The rest is at: https://ministrytech.com/worship/component-of-thankfulness/2/

We thank You, Lord, that Your love is the greatest love of all

“Love is as strong as death … It burns like a blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it” (Song of Solomon 7:6-7). We thank You, Lord, that Your love is the greatest love of all: “Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). We can never earn Your love: “If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly scorned” (Song of Solomon 8:7). Your love is always Your gift to us. May Your love burn, in our hearts, “like a blazing fire, like a mighty flame” – a fire that burns up our dross, a refining fire that purifies us, a flame that burns for Your glory.

Comment: https://learningfromgodsword.wordpress.com/2018/06/13/we-thank-you-lord-that-your-love-is-the-greatest-love-of-all/

3 Reasons to Thank God When You Don’t Feel Like It

“Lord, if You bless me, I’ll thank You; but if You don’t, I’ll be thankful for what I have.” – Phil Robertson

COMMAND FOR THANKFULNESS

The will of God is clearly defined in Scripture, and the will of God is that we should give thanks to Him in all circumstances, good and bad, because we know for certain that even the bad things will work out for our very best (Rom. 8:28). People ask me, “What is the will of God for my life?” I tell them to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess. 5:18). It is the will of God to praise and thank God. We may not discover God’s will for our life until we obey the revealed will of God in Scripture.

 Read more: https://www.christianquotes.info/images/3-reasons-thank-god-dont-feel-like/#ixzz50V69r8zN

 

Finding Gratitude

https://us5.campaign-archive.com/?e=c07069ddf1&u=45b75085e6ab57e339ea89d67&id=eb76167677

Great Verses of the Bible: 1Thessalonians 5:18

https://thepreachersword.com/2017/11/22/great-verses-of-the-bible-1thessalonians-518/

Message – “Thankful for a Change” (Acts 9:26-31)

https://bellatorchristi.com/2017/11/20/podcast-11-20-17-message-thankful-for-a-change-acts-926-31/

The Best Way to be Thankful

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/preventingrace/2017/11/19/best-way-thankful/