(By Roy Lessin, Co-founder,
DaySpring Cards)
"When ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto
the Lord, offer it at your own will." - Leviticus 22:29 KJV
One day, while paying my
electric bill, I decided to thank the company for the service they were
providing me. "Thanks for my electricity," I said, "It's really quite a bargain
for all the benefits I receive." "What!" said the lady behind the counter, in
amazement, "That's the first time anyone has ever thanked us. All I ever hear
around here are complaints."
It's a
challenge to grow up with a thankful heart. From an early age we are exposed to
a culture of complainers, gripers, grumblers, and critics. We complain about the
weather, traffic, food, work, neighbors, bills, the government, church, and life
in general. Worst of all, we are ungrateful toward God. It would be hard to
count the number of complaints and criticisms that are daily spoken before Him
and against Him. How can we, who have received so much, be thankful for so
little?
One of the great indicators
of true spirituality is not measured by how many times we go to church, how big
our Bibles are, or how long we pray, but it is measured by the level of
gratitude that is in our hearts. When we are ungrateful, the heart of God is
saddened, the Holy Spirit is grieved, and the joy of the Lord is quenched within
us.
Being thankful sweetens you,
grumbling sours you; being thankful brings sunshine to your countenance, being
ungrateful casts a shadow; being thankful brings a melody to your words,
criticism makes you sound like a clanging cymbal; being thankful keeps your feet
on the pathway of celebration, complaint takes you down the road of despair.
When our hearts are filled
with gratefulness we may feel like our thanksgiving is inadequate, but we can be
certain that our thanksgiving is always appropriate. It will gladden the heart
of God to hear your heartfelt thanks being freely offered to Him today.
Thought for
Today
Jesus Christ wants disciples and not admirers.
An admirer
is the cheap edition of a disciple.
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