View Site Map

Today, I want to highlight the power of being thankful. Jesus, our perfect example, modeled a life filled with gratitude and praise. No matter the challenges you've faced, there's always something to be thankful for—starting with the simple blessing of waking up today. For many, yesterday was their final day on Earth. I truly hope they found joy in it. Remember, we're not promised tomorrow, so let's not take for granted this precious gift of another day to live, love, and experience God's grace.

Jesus was an incredible example of overflowing joy, filled with the Spirit in such a way that He spontaneously rejoiced and thanked His Father. His gratitude wasn't just a routine; it was a heartfelt expression of His connection with God.

(Luke 10:21 NKJV) In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight."

Being thankful for what the Lord has done for you is essential because your attitude determines your spiritual altitude. It has benefits, and when you are thankful, good things are more likely to come your way than when you have a whining, pessimistic, "woe is me" type of attitude. Try smiling and holding the door for others, and you might find that you enjoy it.

There seems to be a prevailing ignorance today that one's attitude toward God, life, or others doesn't really matter, when nothing could be further from the truth. Where did they read that? Certainly not in the Bible. Jesus said that if we love one another, then everyone will know that we are His disciples (John 13:35).

Another example is one of the fruits of the Spirit: Patience. Patience is not just about waiting in line; it is the ability to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without becoming angry or upset. Everyone at the DMV waits in a line, but not everyone is patient.

There have been many times when I was just going through my day, maybe whistling a tune or thanking God for having work to do, because there were times when I didn't, and suddenly He would give me something I secretly needed or simply wanted. I've received printers, scanners, computers, cables, money, and more. Things I hadn't even told anyone about would somehow find their way to me. As I tried to be a blessing to others, God would use others to be a blessing to me. It's circular.=

(Proverbs 11:24–25 NKJV) There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty. The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.

(Matthew 10:42 NKJV) "And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."

As you delight in the Lord, He takes notice, and your attitude today actually matters. Consider these scriptures:

(Psalm 37:4 NKJV) Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

To Delight means: "To take great pleasure in" as in: "They delight in playing hide and seek."

(2 Corinthians 9:6–7 NKJV) But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

To be Cheerful means: "Noticeably happy and optimistic" as in: "How can she be so cheerful at six o'clock in the morning?"

(Colossians 3:17 NKJV) And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Thanks means: "an expression of gratitude."

To Delight, be cheerful, and be thankful should all be a part of our attitude. Does that sound like you? It doesn't always sound like me, but that is my goal. David wrote many of the Psalms, and they are full of thankfulness. This message is not rocket science, but an extremely simple one that we all know in our hearts.

The opposite side of this coin is complaining, and it is growing in popularity today, as is entitlement. Complaining is defined as: "to express dissatisfaction or annoyance about an event or the state of affairs."

Entitlement is the mindset that God owes you something, and then becoming upset with Him if you don't receive it. Yes, He loves us, but we should remember that we are in His debt, and He is not our pet. There are also examples of these bad attitudes provided for us. The tenth time that the Israelites began to murmur and complain in the wilderness, the Lord said this:

(Numbers 14:27-29 NKJV) "I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me. Say to them, 'As I live,' says the LORD, 'just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you: The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above."

And then in Deuteronomy:

(Deuteronomy 28:47-48 NKJV) "Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of everything;"

Being thankful has its rewards. Whining and complaining have their rewards as well. So don't think that being a Christian negates the Bible. The God that hated complaining then, still does. He changes not, and to Him, a thousand years was just yesterday. The God that loves a cheerful giver, still does. "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart" still works today.

Yesterday was 24 hours of your life that you lived and are now gone, so I hope that you enjoyed it with a smile because it isn't coming back. Let us be encouraged today and try to keep a positive attitude. Those around you will appreciate it, and that list includes angels, the Holy Spirit, and the great crowd of witnesses that have gone on before us.

You can pray this with me if you like:

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please cleanse and refine me from the inside out. Purge the bad attitudes from me and fill me with Your peace and grace. I am sorry for the times I have ignored You and become so caught up in what I was doing that I forgot to just tell You: Thank You. Today, I want You to know that I am so grateful, so thankful, for everything You have done for me, and I truly appreciate You. I just wanted You to know that, in the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.