The Power of Positive Thanksgiving

"Never stop praying.  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. "  1 Thessalonians 5:17-19

What is the antidote to a heavy heart?  Thankfulness. 

It's hard to be thankful when our world seems to be crashing down.  As our problems mount, we worry and stress.  Our attentions are turned to our circumstances, to our heartache, to our insurmountable problems.  We tend to hone in on ourselves, especially in tough times.  We assume a fetal position, our difficulties dominating our thoughts and piercing our very souls.  From this vantage, we hardly have the strength to do much else.  However, it is especially in times like these that our attention should be shifted from ourselves to our magnificent and awe inspiring God.  Thankfulness is the key to shifting our attention from 'me' to 'He.'

Paul says we are to be thankful in ALL circumstances - the good, the bad, and the ugly.  We don't get to pick and choose when we should be thankful.  We are to be thankful ALWAYS.  There is power in thankfulness - in recognizing our awesome God and thanking Him for EVERYTHING He has done.  In being thankful, we allow the Holy Spirit to do His great work within our hearts.  I would even dare to say that when we find it hardest to be thankful, but do so anyway, is when the Holy Spirit does His greatest works in us.  Conversely, this passage seems to suggest that when we are not thankful in our circumstances, our lack of thanksgiving actually STIFLES the Holy Spirit within us!  Whoa!  I certainly never thought of it like this before!

Each day, make time to spend with the Lord in prayer and thanksgiving.  Thank Him for all of your blessings and in all of your circumstances.  Even if you are at rock bottom, you have a lot more to be thankful for than you know.  Examine your heart and your life, making a list of all that God has given.  And no matter the circumstance, we all can give thanks for what Jesus did on the cross for us. 

So cast off that 'poor me' attitude that flairs up in the midst of troubles.  Replace it with positive thanksgiving!  We have A LOT to be thankful for - for we who are in Christ are unshakable!

Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.  Hebrews 12:28


In His Love, Cathy