I am grateful for everything in my life. Does that in itself sound lofty? Well it is the month of "thanks" where everyone on social media likes to write out what they are thankful for and people in general seem to be more aware of their general attitude of what they have. While we all love to read those posts and even get tagged in some; there are some people who may just plain not feel like being thankful.
People may be struggling, they may be weary or even feel like God has let them down. I am sure we all have been there at some point. God may seem distant, like He's far away or doesn't really care about what's troubling them. Painful life blows and losses might have recently sent them spiraling.
Those thoughts and feelings should not be diminished or trivialized at all because they are real feelings. What I want to remind everyone about is that we have a choice every day, to give Him thanks. We have a choice to remind ourselves who we REALLY are in Christ. Situations and feeling can cause ourselves to see things in a way that isn't exactly the truth. We have to look at what we are going through and say:
"God, I know there is something good that is going to come out of this! I know that when I get through this I am going to be a better person. I am CHOOSING to trust you; that you are working this out for me and although my ways are not yours and I cannot see how all of this is going to work out in the 'bigger picture' of my life; I know that you do. So I in faith proclaim thanks and I CHOOSE to have a grateful heart despite what I see or feel. God I will take the weight of my issues and problems off of my shoulders and I give it to you because you are God and only you can transform it from a mess to something beautiful."
So with a heart of thanksgiving we can realize that no matter what we face; we have a God that doesn’t just work to change our situations and help us through our problems. He does so much more. He CHANGES our hearts. His power working through hearts of gratitude and focused minds on Him; releases the grip that our struggles have over us. We actually can be strengthened by His peace and refueled by His joy.
When we live life with a spirit of gratefulness and show it by expressing our thankfulness despite our circumstances; we are opening a door for God to do something wonderful IN us a well as THROUGH us! So look at the good and the not-so-good situations that you are going through and speak in faith and declare the goodness of God and the promises of God over it. It is in this way of living that pure joy can be found as well as victory over anything and everything and can and will be your GREATEST testimony of the saving and loving power of Jesus Christ!
"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.” Psalms 103:1-5
Adjust that Crown!Jonna
