To You I shall offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and call upon the name of the Lord. (Psalm 116:17)
Jesus says: “Bring Me the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Take nothing for granted, not even the rising of the sun. Before Satan tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden, thankfulness was as natural as breathing. Satan’s temptation involved pointing Eve to the one thing that was forbidden her. The garden was filled with luscious, desirable fruits, but Eve focused on the one fruit she couldn’t have rather than being thankful for the many good things freely available. This negative focus darkened her mind, and she succumbed to temptation. When you focus on what you don’t have or on situations that displease you, your mind also becomes darkened. You take for granted life, salvation, sunshine, flowers, and countless other gifts from Me. You look for what is wrong and refuse to enjoy life until that is ‘fixed’.
When you approach Me with thanksgiving, the Light of My Presence pours into you, transforming you through and through. Walk in the Light with Me by practicing the discipline of thanksgiving.”
In light of this teaching, I would challenge you to prayerfully consider how you would answer the following questions:
What of God’s glorious gifts am I guilty of taking for granted? When was the last time I thanked God for the rising of the sun? for the precious air that I breath? for the beauty of a flower? for a star-lit night? for the song of a bird?
In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Is there anything I want so bad but can’t have, or don’t have yet, that is keeping me from appreciating all that I DO have? If so, how has this colored my attitude, my thoughts, my ability to find contentment?
But godliness is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have bought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. (1 Timothy 6:6-8)
How content am I with all that I already have? Do I make a habit of thanking God each day for the bounty He has provided?
A number of years ago I was reminded that even inside plumbing and running water, not to mention a multitude of other things we often consider necessities, are in fact luxuries in many parts of the world. But how often do we stop and thank God for these luxuries, or are we so spoiled we don’t think of them as blessings to be thankful for? Maybe it’s time we had a change of heart, and instead of spending so much time asking God for those things we don’t have, start thanking Him for all we do have.
(TERI METTS)