An Attitude of Gratitude

I love this time of year. Thanksgiving, with all the food, trimmings, family, and, of course, football, is a wonderful thing. It is also a time for introspection to make sure that those things I have set as goals are aligned with what God has for me. The holiday season always makes me assess the goals I set for the year back in January. Regardless of the grade I give myself, I continually am amazed at the blessings God has granted me.  Sure, it can be easy and trite to be thankful for a job and food and family. However, there are so many more things that deserve recognition and thankfulness to God that too often we take for granted, from the gift of waking up this morning to the safe travel of a child home from college. For others, the granting of another year after a terrible illness is immeasurable for the family of the one suffering. Being thankful is a big deal in the Bible. Thankfulness comes up 72 times in the Old Testament and 71 times in the New Testament.  1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Admittedly, it is easy to forget the things that God has done for us daily. Let me share some of the things an attitude of gratitude does for us:

• It helps us let go the petty things in life
• It helps us put our own lives in perspective
• It generally makes us more giving to others
• It often allows us to let go of a grudge or problem with someone
• It makes us more sensitive to the needs of others
• It helps us align our thinking Biblically (It is commanded in Scripture)
• It helps us approach problems and tragedies with a faithful understanding of God’s Sovereignty

I was struck with something said this week in my Bible fellowship class. Most of us have electricity, running water, food in the pantry, and a job. The majority of the world can’t say they have all four of those. Moreover, there are Christians in Iran, Iraq, Egypt, and Syria being slaughtered for their faith. Putting the problems I have up against those real life issues is really convicting.

One of the things I am thankful for in the last few years are the trials and difficulties I have had to deal with. I know some of you are saying, really? Yes. Troubles and trials produce a full reliance on Christ for everything. I can’t think of a person I know that has dealt with a tragedy, trial, or trouble that hasn’t felt the hand of God with them. Before you give me applause, I have the same struggles with worry (my biggest problem), concerns, doubts, etc. as anybody does.  I am a problem solver by nature. As a result, I have to have answers. When I don’t, I fail, and regrettably, forget that God is always in control. Two weeks ago I had a painful kidney stone. I wound up in the emergency room two straight mornings. The second time, they did a CT scan with dye. I still remember the doctor coming in to talk to me and the family that was there. The scan revealed a tumor that was probably cancer. I was somewhat incoherent from the pain drugs that they had been giving me but lucid enough to have a sick feeling inside. I had to wait for an appointment with my main doctor two weeks later. I had been in prayer and replaying scenarios in my mind. Fortunately, my prognosis, because of the CT scan, is curable. The scan actually saved me from having a much larger problem and bleaker condition later. So, while I hated having kidney stones, it was a blessing in this circumstance as it helped solve a larger problem.

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[quote bar=”true” align=”center”]Troubles and trials produce a full reliance on Christ for everything.[/quote]

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We live in an angry and unhappy world. It doesn’t take long to see it if you turn on the news or watch your social media feed.  This kind of attitude can lead to thanklessness. This is a sad place to be. Thanklessness leads to being a constant complainer and finding fault with everything and everyone. It also puts the spotlight on us and self- reliance rather than on God. It also can lead us into depression and hopelessness because we are so focused on our problems instead of Him. True thankfulness makes us acknowledge the following:

God is Sovereign.

God has provided us with grace and mercy.

God has provided us an inheritance with His kingdom for His children.

God loves us and is with us no matter the storm.

As we enter the holiday season, let me challenge you to do two things: First, be thankful daily for the basics in your life. You can see, hear, smell, go to work, etc. Second, make a commitment to help at least one family, less fortunate than you, with something this season. It could be as simple as making a utility bill payment or helping them Christmas shop for their children. It’s all about building relationships with others. Thankfulness allows us to prioritize our lives and put things in perspective. Material things and stuff doesn’t matter in the long run but a humble and thankful heart can change a life.

S. Montgomery