Give Thanks with a Thankful Heart...

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thes. 5: 16-18

With "Thanksgiving" the holiday just behind us, I thought I would give you a little insight on what God's been teaching me about what thankfulness looks like in my day to day life, and how we as believers aren't simply called to celebrate a holiday once a year but live out thankfulness every day.

I know this verse is one of the most commonly known verses in the bible to many and one you see on every Christian poster, etc....but this year, it’s really taken on new meaning in my life.
One thing I notice is that Paul, in the very first statement, isn't urging me to rejoice and be thankful when I feel like it, when things go according to my plan, the way I want them, but instead, he uses the phrase "always". I thought for fun I would look up the term “always” (I know you might be thinking “duh”, everyone knows what always means, why in the world is she doing that, but hang with me) So here is what I found: “every time; on every occasion; without exception, all the time; continuously; uninterruptedly, forever: in any event; at any time” So with this meaning Paul’s encouragement contradicts my flesh and nature BIG TIME!! (That Paul, he tends to do that often!)

A prayer that is often times really hard for me to pray, but really humbling and good for me at the same time is “Thank you Lord for giving me exactly what I need” (So many times, I find myself saying this, but praying that the Lord changes my heart to actually believe it and walk it out) This lets me rest and find peace in the fact that HE is in control and sovereign (not me), and it’s all about HIM (not me), for HIS kingdom (not mine), for HIS glory (not mine) (Thanks T Bar M Camps for letting me borrow that phrasing). I am called to have faith, not understanding, that even when I question God, and don’t have a clue what He is up to, He is doing it for my good, and has my best interest in mind.

Wally and I have tried to make a habit of praying together before we go to sleep at night. As we were praying last night (Thanksgiving night), Wally was thanking God for how he has provided for us and how much he has blessed us (our families, our friends, moving in our first house, his job, our dog Champ (laugh if you want, but we are really thankful for him!), and the list could go on and on. He also thanked God for how He has graciously made us stewards for the things that are already His anyway. This is the attitude we long to have (not always successful at it, but strive daily towards that). What a humbling thought, that convicts me and pushes me to have a more generous heart. That what I so often refer to as “mine” is actually not….it’s God’s and I am simply taking care of it for a little while.

Well, hopefully you find some encouragement in that! It’s a struggle daily for me, but thankfully I don’t fight it alone. I have a faithful God who loves me and walks with me daily through it.

Happy Thanksgiving….may it not be a day once a year, but an attitude every day!

Love, Micah