The Power of Being Thankful
I’m sure you have heard about how important giving thanks is, but have you learned about how powerful it is? When we tap into the place of genuine gratitude, the world all-of-the-sudden seems like a brighter and better place.
Often when we are asked what we are thankful for, the responses that are easy to rattle off are family and friends – as they should be. But what specifically about those family members and friends are you thankful for? Maybe you’re grateful for your brother’s sense of humor or the way your mom knows that something is wrong without you saying a word.
Every morning I write down something that I praise God for. I have to be honest, it’s hard to think of things at 5:00 in the morning! I almost feel ashamed when my mind goes blank. It’s not that I can’t think of anything, but I sometimes believe that listing small things seems not good enough in some way. As I go through my day, I can be thankful for so many little things: electricity, having a garage, clean clothes, cupboards with food, gas in the tank, my health, a phone call from my kids, and the list can get very long!
But that is the point, right? When we recognize and are thankful for the little things in life, we make room for more positivity and goodness to flood in. That’s just how the kingdom of God works. Whatever you sow, you are going to reap. That means that if you sow thankfulness, you will find more to be thankful for.
A couple of years ago, my husband and I bought a white jeep grand Cherokee. Upon driving our new-to-us vehicle around, a strange thing happened. We noticed that white jeep grand Cherokees were EVERYWHERE we looked!
Now I’m pretty sure that the vehicles didn’t start popping just after we had purchased ours. They had been there all along – I was just noticing them now.
Thankfulness works the same way. There is goodness and opportunities to be thankful all around us. When we begin to notice and develop a grateful mindset, we find more to be thankful for. We open ourselves up to see more beauty in the world and the good in others too.
Giving thanks is God’s will for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Continually voicing your thankfulness to God is constantly rejoicing and praying. As you recognize things to be thankful for, turn around and thank God for them. Instead of complaining about a chore you have to do, turn it around and thank Him that you can do it. For example, give thanks for dirty dishes and laundry because it means that you had food to eat and clothes to wear!
God created us. He knows that being positive, rejoicing, and being thankful are keys to our happiness. Beyond that, it builds our faith when we remember and recognize all that He has done for us.
It is interesting to note that thankfulness is NOT one of the fruits of the spirit. It is an action and attitude that we get to choose – a gift from you to God. But beware, you can’t outgive God. When you give gratitude, you will reap the power and blessings back into your life.
Let’s share! What has God done in your life that you are thankful for today?