Living Thankful
Soon we will gather with family and friends, and hopefully, we will remember to do more than just eat a big meal and watch football or make a mad dash for the stores. Thanksgiving gives us the perfect opportunity to transform our lives from those of griping and dissatisfaction to lives of joy and gratitude. Did you know it’s a biblical practice to count your blessings? As you listen to people talk, you’d almost think that it’s biblical to count your problems. Isn’t it true that we do far more of that? It seems we often look for things to complain about; however, a thankful spirit is one of the key distinguishing marks of a Christian. It sets us apart from the world, and it makes us different. For a child of God, thankfulness is not confined to a day or a season! It’s an everyday attitude.
When I think about the blessings of God, I think of many of the psalms, especially Psalm 103. In the first five verses, the author thinks of God's relationship to himself as he says, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name." He then repeats that phrase and adds, "Forget none of his benefits." Let's never forget the benefits that come with a relationship with Jesus Christ! It’s an eternal insurance program, and nothing comes close in comparison.
Some years ago, before computers, the Reuben Donnelly Company handled magazine subscriptions for a number of publications. They had a machine that sent out notices to people whose subscriptions had expired. One day the machine broke, and a rancher in Powder Bluff, Colorado, received 9,734 notices that his subscription to National Geographic had expired. He drove the ten miles to the post office, sent his money, and wrote, “Send me the magazine! I give up!”
God has flooded your life with far more than 9,734 notices of His love and blessing. He wants you to respond by giving up your self-seeking, stubborn ways and by giving in to His great goodness toward you in Christ. He wants you to be filled with heartfelt worship every day as you think about God’s great goodness and your great need.
Press On,
Pastor Brian Richard