by Barbara Rainey
He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me. Psalms 50:23
Has it ever seemed surprising to you that God made the Israelites
wander in the wilderness for 40 years just for grumbling and
complaining? My kids may have spent 30 minutes in their rooms for
griping, but 40 years? That's some severe discipline!
One thing is crystal clear from this biblical account: God is obviously
not pleased with grumbling, ungrateful hearts. And we should not
tolerate grumbling either—in ourselves or in our children.
Being grateful is a choice that we readily and ritually express on
Thanksgiving Day. But what do we do on other days of the year when the
mood is less festive or the atmosphere is more ordinary?
I like the contented way the Pilgrims approached life. They did not
allow their feelings or circumstances to determine whether or not they
would exercise gratitude and thanksgiving. They believed that God was in
control—"providence," they called it. Following this belief to its
logical conclusion, they responded to challenges with a perspective that
said, "God has allowed this for our good." They chose to
believe—rightly so—that their dependence on a holy, faithful God was
well placed and that even though much was against them, there was always
much more for which to be grateful.
Developing a heart of gratitude is essential to growing a stronger faith.
As John Piper stated in his book A Godward Life, "If we do not believe
that we are deeply dependent on God for all we have or hope to have, the
very spring of gratitude and faith runs dry."
Make the choice today to take your eyes off yourself and your
circumstances, gratefully acknowledging who God is and what He is doing.
Deny yourself the right to complain, embracing instead the deep-seated
joy of thanksgiving... in all things.
A grateful heart pleases God.
DISCUSS
How would a more thankful spirit alter your approach to the situations
you're facing as a family? Make a list together of some things you need
to be grateful for right now.
PRAY
"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name" (Psalms 103:1).===============================================
Be Thankful for People
This devotional was written by Robin Dugall
I thank my God every time I remember you. —Philippians 1:3
Thanksgiving Sunday is here, and across our country, pastors are preaching sermons pointing out the need for Christ-followers to be thankful people. As a pastor, I’ve made impassioned pleas for Christ-followers to rise above our culture… to resist the temptation for the holiday season to be simply another opportunity for us to be self-focused and self-indulgent. Thanksgiving isn’t just about eating to the brink of explosion; shopping to the brink of bankruptcy; watching television to the brink of insanity. I’ve tried to make the point that Thanksgiving for a person who loves God can be so much more.
Even so, I discovered in my own life that despite what I’ve preached, I have missed a crucial element in the process of being a thankful follower of Jesus in my own life. I found that over the years I have been mostly thankful for the THINGS in my life; for food, finances, the house I have lived in, the clothes I have worn, and so on. While there’s nothing wrong with being thankful for these things, I have missed the boat on giving thanks for the biggest blessings of God in my life… PEOPLE.
Consider how empty, purposeless, and meaningless our lives would be without relationships. Relationships have shaped who we are and who we are becoming. Without exception, everyone I know has been positively influenced by other people. While it is easy to thank God for the THINGS in our lives, we should remember to be equally thankful for the PEOPLE God has placed in our lives as well!
Let me give you just one example. I am thankful for my Aunt Patty. She had suffered a brain injury when she was a small child severe enough that by the time I was born, she had become mentally disabled. But, when I was a child, she would play games and entertain me for hours. She loved me unconditionally. We would play The Beatles records and pretend to be Paul McCartney and John Lennon. It was her love for music that infected my soul for the rest of my life. I thank God for her!
How about you? Who do you thank God for? Today, take a few moments and thank God for the relationships in your life. Truthfully, it can revolutionize your life. Happy Thanksgiving!
GOING DEEPER:
1. Make a list of the people who have shaped your life. Share the list with your friends and family.
2. How easy is it to just thank God for things in your life? How can you live a lifestyle of thankfulness more consistently?
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