January 2019 is the month of Gratitude and Thanksgiving
GRAT·I·TUDE /ˈꞬRADƏˌT(Y)O͞OD/
noun
the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
synonyms:gratefulness, thankfulness, thanks, appreciation, recognition, acknowledgment, hat tip, credit, regard, respect
Oh to have gratitude in every area of my life. Am I the only one who sometimes takes things for granted? Am I the only one who sometimes forgets to say “thank You” to God for every gift large and small? Am I the only one? Yes, I know I’m human, but human only I am not. I am filled with the Holy Spirit and He has empowered me to walk in the Spirit and overcome my flesh….
Yet. Some of my days go without having an attitude of gratitude. See, life gets in the way of being grateful. At least, that’s what I try to convince myself of when I feel that twinge of conviction in my heart. The bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” The quantifier in that sentence is “every”. I guess that means God wants me to give thanks when the bills are due and the bank account says “NO.” What you are saying, Jesus, is I’m supposed to have gratitude when my husband is cheating on me and I have no way out. How is that humanly possible?
Truth is, it is NOT humanly possible but it is possible to do all things THRU Christ, that strengthens us. The Word encourages us to see God in every thing, every circumstance and every one. When we focus our attention on the lover of our soul, it is possible to give thanks and have that attitude of gratitude. When we look to God and not our circumstances, we can cheerfully, honestly and quickly give thanks to God for His mercy, grace, power and love. Searching the scriptures about gratitude, meditating upon them and applying them to our lives gives us a new perspective on what gratitude and thanksgiving really means. Let the new year be a new beginning in our hearts toward gratefulness to God. It’s time to S.O.A.K. in gratitude and thanksgiving.
Philippians 4:12-13 New King James Version (NKJV)
I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Psalm 50:14 New King James Version (NKJV)
Offer to God thanksgiving, And pay your vows to the Most High.
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