Getting Thankful

During this time of the year, we are reminded that we need to be thankful.

If you are one of those having a hard time finding things to be thankful for, I am writing this for you.

There have been so many times I have struggled to be thankful. I would look at my possessions, the state of my relationships, my account balance, or my overall circumstance and find it difficult to be thankful.

For many, this probably sounds all too familiar.

I used to operate on the premise that good Christians were supposed to look at their circumstances, regardless of how good or bad they were, and say thanks to God. Most of the time, I would offer a half-hearted, "thanks". The same kind of "thanks" we force our kids to say when they get socks or a sweater from Grandma for their birthday.

God isn't asking us to fake it.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 it says, "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 

This verse seems so impossible to live out, but stay with me here.

In Psalms 107:1 it says, "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!"

When we read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, in light of Psalms 107:1, things start to come a little more into focus.

The verse in Thessalonians ends with, in Christ Jesus; and the passage in Psalms says to give thanks to God, because He is good.

Look carefully at these.

It doesn't say, rejoice for Christ Jesus. He isn't asking us to perform for Him. It says rejoice, pray, and give thanks because that is God's will for us, as we live in Him.

It doesn't say give thanks to God because you are popular and rich. It says give thanks because God is good.

We need to turn our focus away from what we possess, and choose to remember what we have. We may not possess everything we want, but we have the love of God.

So when Paul and David write, rejoice all the time, pray all the time, give God thanks; what are they saying? They are saying, stay focused on, and in communication with God.

When we focus on God, we are reminded of how much we have to be thankful for.

So wherever you may be today, whatever you have or don't have, remember to spend some time with God. Nothing works better than God's presence, when we need help getting thankful.