It's November and the week of Thanksgiving at that. So we must go around the room and tell everyone what we are thankful for this year. Let's face it for most of us; this is the only time we speak of being thankful. The other 11 months, we complain a little and get frustrated about what's going on in the world, but we rarely stop and look for what we can be thankful for. I know this is true for me.
I am great at telling you what's wrong and how everything is going terrible, and then come to November, I say that one or two standbys of what I am thankful for. You know the ones I am talking about, family friends, home, job. Yep, that was before my pastor's wife came to me and made it very clear that I needed to start thanking God every day, no matter what was going on.
The Bible even tells us that we are to give thanks in all things. Not just when we feel like, not only when things are going right but in ALL THINGS. It's not easy, especially for someone who has always seen the glass as half empty.
But when you start thanking God even for the things that aren't going right, for the frustrations and the things that have gone wrong even for those who drive you crazy, you will be amazed what will happen and how it will happen will turn your attitude.
I remember this one time at work when I got into with a co-work, and I walked off. I usually would mumble all these things about how I am right and how dare they treat me like that. Instead, I took a deep breath and started thanking God for the co-work and for all they have done for me in the past and this job. My attitude changed, and I felt a peace come over me. I could sit down and talk things through with this person, something I would not have done in the past.
This has been a challenging year, and many people are just finding it hard to be thankful, I understand. I lost my job, and I was the sole breadwinner. I will always remember the phone call I had with my pastor that Sunday afternoon, the day I found out that I no longer had a job. He asked me if I was okay. And typically, I would have said no and started listing off all the things that could make things worse for us. Instead, I said yes, God's got this. I chose to trust Him and praise Him for what I did have and not what might happen. I also thanked him for how he would provide and trust me; He provided big time.
No matter what is going on, we are told to give thanks to because of His loving kindness and His faithfulness (1 Chronicles 16:41, 20:21). It is through our giving thanks to God that we have Victory (1 Corinthians 15:57)
As this year comes to a close and as we get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving, I bring a challenge instead of just giving thanks one day for the same old things. Did deep and thank God for what He has done and even for some of those not so great Constance. Thank Him for all items, for He is worthy of our Praise.
You be amazed at; how things change, especially your aspect of things.
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