The attitude of Gratitude

Yet another eventful year has passed by. Turning back, what do you see? A year filled with terror, uncertainty, distress and unhappiness? In fact, amongst all the unusual happenings around us, God has been so good to us and faithful to us. He has preserved us and kept us safe under the shadow of his wings. He has blessed us to see yet another year dawning– blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

We normally take all these for granted. Nothing comes to us because we deserve those, but only because God is gracious to us and merciful towards us. Let us take this opportunity to thank Him with ALL our HEART. Let us also appreciate our near and dear ones for being there for us and being our support system. As we begin a new year, let us fill our hearts with an attitude of Gratitude.

Let us open the treasure book to find more clues on being thankful.

OPENING THE TREASURE BOOK

Oh, give thanks to the Lord , for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

I Chronicles 16:34

Our God is good all the time and His mercy endures forever. We should thank Him because He is so so so Good to us. Imagine a father who is mean to his children, it will be very difficult to survive in such a home. But our father in heaven is so good. He is ever loving, caring, protecting, compassionate and above all very good. There is no shadow of darkness in Him. So we should thank Him simply because He is good.

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

I Thessalonians 5:18

In EVERYTHING we should give thanks because this is the will of God for us. If we love our God, then doing His “will” is our priority. His will for us is that we give thanks to Him in all things.

Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”

Ephesians 5:20

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Colossians 3:17

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;

Colossians 4:2

There is no specific time and place for thanking God. The word of God says we should thank God the father ALWAYS, for ALL THINGS in the name of our Lord Jesus. Be it good times or bad times, rough times or easy times, sad times or happy times, healthy times or unhealthy times, God’s will for us is to be thankful always in everything.

Our words and deeds should reflect Jesus and should be with an attitude of Gratitude to Father God. Even in our prayers we should be thankful.

We should put on an attitude of Gratitude at all times and for everything.

Jesus, during his ministry passed through a certain village where he met ten men who were lepers. They stood afar and shouted on top of their voices, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”. He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” As they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, a Samaritan, returned when he saw he was healed. With a loud voice he glorified God and fell down at Jesus’s feet, giving Him thanks. So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”

Here we see Jesus Himself commenting about the lepers who did not return to thank God. Let us not be in this category – people who go to God only for their needs and once needs are met they do not return to God but live their way. Let us appreciate God and be thankful for everything at all times – even when the circumstances looks dull and dim. Let us thank Him for everything small and big – the nature He created for us, our health, our food, our clothes, our shelter, our education and even our life itself as it is a gracious gift of God. Let us be thankful and do the will of God.

Treasures uncovered

So let this be our new year resolution that we will not be grumpy and complaining about how bad our day and life is or how miserable our condition is, but will be content and grateful about everything. This is the will of God in Christ Jesus.

Prayer:

Father, we thank you for teaching us about being thankful. Father help us to be thankful always and in everything as is your will. Help us to appreciate You and everything else in our life. Thank you for the gift of life and all our situations. We love you lord Jesus, in Jesus name, Amen.

---