Let’s consider what it takes to have a heart that overflows with thanksgiving. First of all, gratitude springs from a relationship with Christ. The apostle Paul described this connection in Colossians 2:6-7: “Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.” When we consider all the spiritual riches God lavishes on us because of our relationship with His Son, our hearts can’t help but overflow with thankfulness (Eph. 1:3-14). No longer are we God’s enemies. We’ve actually been adopted into His family, and nothing can ever break that relationship. Second, a thankful attitude is sustained by a lifestyle of walking with Christ. Salvation is the doorway to a relationship with Jesus. From that point forward, we have the privilege of His presence throughout our lives. His indwelling Spirit guides and strengthens us to walk in obedience to Him. But He also works internally, changing us from self-centered, ungrateful, and sinful people into saints who display the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). Have you ever looked back and thanked the Lord for not leaving you as He found you? Although this transformation is often accomplished through pain and suffering, the character qualities which result are of eternal value. Third, consistent gratitude is a result of being firmly rooted and built up in Christ. It’s easy to thank the Lord when life is going our way. But when hard times come, thankfulness will quickly disappear if we aren’t grounded in the truths of God’s Word. Since life is filled with trials and heartaches which could easily cause despair, anger, and bitterness, we need to dig deep into Scripture to gain God’s perspective on our difficulties. Otherwise, we won’t understand what He’s doing or why He’s allowed us to go through suffering and hardship. At one point in my life when I hurt my shoulder and was experiencing excruciating pain, I read Ephesians 5:20 and told the Lord, “I know You said to give thanks for all things, but it’s not reasonable when I’m hurting so badly. I just don’t feel thankful.” But then I realized that this command has nothing to do with feelings. It was a choice I had to make in order to obey God. Instead of letting my circumstances determine my gratitude, I decided to allow Scripture to shape my thoughts and attitudes. Fourth, unfailing gratitude is based on established faith. The only way to be consistently grateful is to believe God and His Word. When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, they not only demonstrated unbelief, but ingratitude as well. Instead of being content with all that the Lord had provided, they wanted more. We do the same thing when we find fault with God because He hasn’t given us what we expected. Maybe it’s a desire for healing, a new job, a promotion, or a restored relationship. Instead of trusting Him to do what’s best, we grumble and complain because we didn’t get our way. However, when we have firm confidence that our God is good, even when our circumstances aren’t, we’ll be thankful in every situation, knowing that He’s working it out for good (Rom. 8:28; 1 Thess. 5:18). Now, let me ask you a challenging question: Are you a grateful person? --Dr. Charles F. Stanley
Posted on: Mon, 02 Dec 2013 07:20:39 +0000
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