1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV — In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
God is calling His children all over the world to live a life of thanksgiving. He wants us to be grateful for the little blessings of life. It is true that you may not be where you want to be but you are obviously not where you used to be. I believe that even when we don’t see Him working, He is still working and it’s only a matter of time and your heart of gratitude will lead you to the room of better, greater, and bigger.
I am sure the apostle did not mince words when he admonished the church to live a life of thanksgiving. He was emphatic by saying that “in all things give thanks”. Living a life of thanksgiving will require three things;
1. Give thanks when the lights are low and when the lights are bright:
Some days may be gloomy and cloudy but the brighter days are ahead. Let us with a grateful heart embrace the realities of today but look forward in hope of a brighter tomorrow. You will not drown nor die; God will come through for you sooner than you think.
2. Count your blessings and name them one by one:
Usually, whatever you focus on becomes your reality. Peter, in his attempt to walk on the water, started to drown because instead of focusing on the Lord who called him to walk on the waters, he moved his focuss to the storms. When you focus on the storm you will complain and murmur, but when you count your blessings, it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
Someone once said
If you want a bad name, help an ungrateful person.
Instead of focusing on the present gloom and clouds; be thankful for the wine and glitz of yesterday. Counting your blessings will keep you to being grateful. It may be true that you lost a teenage daughter; though our loss is grave and big, did it occur to you that others are grieving father and daughter? Thinking this way doesn’t diminish the gravity of your pain but it helps you managing the grief.
3. Understand that it could have been worse.
When you read the account of the book of Job, you will notice that what the devil sought to do was to kill Job. Though Job lost his marriage, children, health, peace, and wealth; the devil really wanted to kill him. If Job by revelation did not know this, he would have murmured and complained; but by revelation Job knew that the situation could have been worse. May the Lord help us to discern that things could have been worse to be able to live a life of thanksgiving.
Prophetic Prayer
May your soul bless the Lord; and all that is within you bless His Holy name. May you never focus on the little pain to forget all the good. May you not be ungrateful because of the 20% hurt and gloom to be ungrateful for the 80% bliss. Ingratitude will shut doors you didn’t imagine! Gratitude will open doors you never dreamt of. Live a life of thanksgiving!
Bless you
