Thankful

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

There are some things in the Bible that are surprising to me. For example, because Israel lacked thankfulness, demonstrated by their griping and complaining, they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. If you are a parent, more than likely, you’ve sent your child to his or her room for 30 minutes for griping and complaining, but 40 years, that’s some timeout!

I’d say it’s crystal clear, God is not pleased with unthankful, grumbling hearts. That’s why I’m thinking that Thanksgiving Day is not the only day we should consider and express our thankfulness. It’s a holiday and the mood, for the most part, is festive. But what about the rest of the year when things are more ordinary, mundane, and hard?

Perhaps the attitude of the Pilgrims can help us here. Their’s were difficult days, but they would not allow their feelings to determine their gratitude and thanksgiving. They believed in the providence of God - that God is in control. The logical consequence of that was a perspective that their holy, faithful God used the challenges they faced as an opportunity for their good. Hence, their thankfulness.

I don’t think a grateful heart comes naturally. It must be developed and continually cultivated, and it is critical if you want to grow stronger in faith. In his book, A Godward Life, John Piper wrote, "If we do not believe that we are deeply dependent on God for all we have or hope to have, the very spring of gratitude and faith runs dry.”

The choice is yours to make: Eyes on yourself, or eyes on God. Reject and deny yourself the right to complain. Rather, develop a deep-seated heart of thanksgiving… in all things! Because, a thankful heart pleases God. 

He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me. Psalms 50.23