An Attitude of Gratitude

Date:  Nov 24, 2016

To:  The Body of Christ

From:  Mr. Miyagi

Subject:  Our daily devotion

Re:  An attitude of gratitude

Good morning brethren, today’s Scripture from Our Daily Bread is found in Col. 3:17 (AMP)- 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.

Commentary:

Today is Thanksgiving, a day to remember all the things that God has blessed us with.  This attitude of gratitude should not be just once a year.  It should be every single day of our lives.  Being thankful to God for the good times as well as the trials that we face is important because often times, it is the trials and challenges that we face and overcome that makes us a better person.  Therefore, everyone of us has something to be thankful for.

There was a guy who complained that he did not have nice shoes until he met the guy with no feet.    Children complain often about not wanting to eat this or that, but they don't realize that there are starving children in third world countries.  And for those who complain about how small their abode is ought to remember that there are people who sleep on the streets.  

If a person has a thankful attitude, he will see the virtue in everything that he faces and be thankful for even the smallest of blessings that come his way.  Our God is a big God and He owns the whole universe.  He has the resources to bless His children….. lots of it.  The question is “do we have an attitude of gratitude?”

Proverbs 24:30-31 amp-

I went by the field of the lazy man,

And by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding;

And there it was, all overgrown with thorns;

Its surface was covered with nettles;

Its stone wall was broken down.  

Commentary:

When a person fails to be a good steward of the things that God has blessed him with, he is not being thankful.  Laziness is a sign of unthankfulness.  If a person neglects his home, his family, his relationships, he is really saying that these things have little or no value to him.  A thankful person will carefully tend to the needs of his family because his family is important to him.  He will maintain his home instead of allowing it to become a royal mess.  He will make sure to spend time with those who are important to him because he is thankful for those relationships.  

The condition of the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy.  He comes snooping around to see what he can take.  It’s all about self.  There is no gratitude in that.  So watch out for those whose heart is self-centered.  

So this once a year reminder, even to the selfish people, the season of thanksgiving reminds us of Jesus’ selfless sacrifice of giving.  We ought to remember the most selfless, giving person, who is the Lord Jesus and receive Him with thanksgiving.  This is more than a thanksgiving meal.  This meal is a reminder that as we partake of it, that this Thanksgiving becomes more than the clothes on our back and the roof over our head.  It is a reminder that Jesus is a gift from God, who deserves all the praise and thanksgiving.   If a person is self seeking and only take from others, God sees this and He will cause circumstances to take place where he will lose what little he has.  So be thankful and grateful to God.  Thanksgiving is an expression of divine love.  If we have this in our heart, thanksgiving becomes automatic, not just today but everyday throughout the year.  

Questions:

Are you thankful for the people in your life?  How do you show your gratitude to them?

When facing trials and hardships in life, how do you respond to them?

What can you do today to show someone that you are thankful for him/her?

In conclusion, thankfulness is an attitude of the heart.  But many times, it goes beyond that.  An attitude of gratitude makes one want to give back to those who have blessed them time and time again.  It flows naturally out of the heart because you cannot contain a heart of thankfulness.  What can you thank the Lord Jesus for today? How will you show that thankfulness today?  

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!!!

Please share any thoughts and impression for the edification of the Body of Christ.

Mr. Miyagi