Have you ever been told “thank you” by someone with a frown or sour expression on their face? It just doesn’t mean the same, does it? If we are not careful, we will go to God with this same attitude. Knowing we should be grateful for all he has blessed us with, we may even pray and say thank you, all while grumbling to others about the way things are. Or perhaps even wishing we had something different. True gratitude comes from the heart. Not from the mouth. There are three major areas of our lives we should be thankful, as found in scripture.
Thankful for People
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
1 Timothy 2:1
This can be such a difficult thing to do. When I taught this as a Sunday School lesson to my 3-5 grade girls, we talked about the different types of people in our lives. We determined the friends and family we love dearly are so easy to be thankful for. But when it comes to our enemies, those who talk about us behind our backs, or people who do us wrong, it’s not so easy. How about politicians who lead our country in a way that goes against God’s word? How can we be thankful for them? Well, we can be thankful for their position, that we live in a country that is free, and thankful that God is still in control, and can still save their souls. We can thank God that those leaders have not made worse, more detrimental choices. We truly have to change our hearts, in order to change our prayers.
Thankful for Situations
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
There is a lesson to be learned from even the most unpleasant of situations. When things go well, thank God for the blessings! When times are hard, thank God that you are learning to rely on Him more. When you can’t figure things out, and you can’t see the end of a rough patch anywhere in sight, thank Him for all the times he has blessed you before. Everything we go through in life fits together to make a beautiful story for those of us that are His children. God’s handiwork is all around us. We simply have to thank him for it all, even when we don’t understand or can’t see the whole picture.
Thankful for Things
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Ephesians 5:20
That car you drive? Yes, thank God for it! (Even if it isn’t the exact one you would like to have.) The house you live in that is 30 years old? Thank God for the roof over your head, and shelter from the storms. We can find a reason to be thankful for every thing we have. If we look at those things with spiritual eyes, instead of carnal, we will see just how blessed we truly are. I find the more I look for the “silver lining” in situations, and relationships, and with the things in my life, the more blessed I realize I truly am. My attitude changes, and I am truly grateful for how good God is to me.
