It is a good thing to take the time to reflect on the blessings that you have in life. This is important even if you are now experiencing a difficult season or if it has been a tough year. Having gratitude or giving thanks is said to have several benefits. But did you know that giving thanks is also commanded by God?
In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, God says, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” You may deem that with the hardships, privations, perplexities, pain or grief you are experiencing right now, it is difficult to have a thankful heart. Yet it is imperative that you choose to think of some good or blessings in your life. Be intentional. Perhaps in a family gathering one person is missing due to death or some unforeseen circumstances for the first time. Choose to enjoy the people present and the activities that are provided for your enjoyment or benefit. In the case of death, you can carve out some time to reminisce and express gratitude for some blessings each family member received, tangible or intangible, from the deceased. That’s a healthy way to “focus” on a loss. Ordinarily, however, you must simply choose to appreciate the blessings you have like health, food, clothing, reliable friends, beautiful flowers and gentle winds. You can even be thankful for things you believe are forthcoming.
Did you know that the best and easiest way to learn contentment is to express thankfulness? The apostle Paul says, “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11). Contentment is experienced when you choose to fix your mind on what you possess versus what you do not possess. The scripture records that Paul and Silas were thankful that they were suffering for the sake of Christ, being beaten and put in jail. Do you think they were praising God then because they had a greater threshold for pain? No! I imagine they were in the habit of expressing gratitude and praise, so they did what came naturally then — praise God — the thing they had educated their minds to practice.
Other benefits of expressing gratitude, according to Harvard Medical School include feeling more positive, better heart health, being able to deal with adversity and building stronger relationships. When managers say “thank you” to workers, it was also shown that the employees were motivated to work harder. Not only can gratitude be shown by simply expressing it face to face, but you can write a note or letter, meditate or pray. It is not a laborious task. Consider that the benefits are great to others as well as yourself.
Expressing thanks can often lead you to a power outside of and higher than yourself who provides the bounteous blessings. You may also find yourself thankful to God for blessings others receive — recovery of health, a job promotion, a needed vehicle, or a transformed life as a result of accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord. This attitude certainly keeps selfishness at bay, loving your neighbor as you love yourself. And who doesn’t enjoy the sun burst through the clouds after a rainy day. This atmospheric change may draw your attention to the “Son”, Jesus Christ, through whom God created all things (Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 1:2). And the Creator is also the Savior of the world.
“As many as received him [Jesus], to them gave he power to become the sons (and daughters) of God” (John 1:12). You can be thankful that though you are “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:18), Jesus provides a remedy for your sinful habits and practices, offering the gift of repentance, His willingness to have a relationship with you, and shows what the reward will be for all the overcomers of sin (Revelation 3:19-21). With such great liberty to walk according to His commands, and the evidence of His lovingkindness, don’t you have much to be thankful for today?
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