My Pastor used to say that if you don’t feel you have anything to be thankful for … just take a breath …
Thanksgiving is a response to our perspective of what God has done.
God gives to us, so that we can give to others.
If nothing else, our outward attitude should be one that gives hope to others.
Where our hope lies … our attitude lies …
Remember to always, just as Abraham, just as Paul, place our hope in the One who has promised …
I really like what Peter said about this hope that we have:
First, our faith and hope must be in God (1 Peter 1:21).
If our faith is alive, our hope will be alive: Peter called what we have a “lively hope” (1 Peter 1:3).
This hope (or lack thereof), this faith (or lack thereof), will be evident to those around us. I wonder if anyone ever approached Paul or Peter with what we hear, all too often: “Hey … what’s wrong?”
Peter has the answer: We must first “sanctify the Lord God in your hearts;” if we will do this, onlookers will do just that: they will “look on,” and we must be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). Note that we must give this answer with both “meekness and fear.”
If we have this faith and this hope, we will be thankful, regardless of outward circumstances: Paul said it best:
“I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11).
I guess that if we were truly happy with what we have … we wouldn’t want anything more.
Perhaps we can tell more about a person’s heart by what they want, rather than by what they have.
Remember that God took everything away from Paul … yet, God was enough for Paul:
“…continue in prayer … with thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2).
Blessings,
Richard.Vincent.Rose.
pastorappreciationblog.com 