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(1 Thessalonians 5:18) “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”
SERIES 7: WALKING WITH JESUS - “How do I now live because I belong to Christ?” 10. Living thankfully (Gratitude transforms ordinary days into worship).
Following Jesus means learning to notice God's goodness, even in the ordinary things of life.
Of course it is easier to focus on all the negatives … what we don't have, what hasn't worked out, what we wish were different, or what we are still waiting for. But if we don’t look for what’s ‘really here’ - what God has given us- then we'll forever be chasing dreams.
Notice that the Apostle Paul doesn't say, “Give thanks when everything is going well.” He says, “in all circumstances.”
That doesn't mean pretending everything is good. Life can be painful. We all experience disappointment, loss, uncertainty and grief. Giving thanks doesn't mean denying those things. It means recognising that God remains good - even when our circumstances are not.
Gratitude changes the way we see ordinary life. A meal becomes something to thank God for. A conversation with a friend becomes a gift. A quiet morning becomes an opportunity to recognise God's faithfulness. A warm bed, a cup of coffee, a walk outside, or a verse of Scripture that speaks to us can all become reminders of God's kindness.
Most times we are looking for something spectacular from God while overlooking what we consider to be the ordinary blessings He has already placed in our hands.
Gratitude opens our eyes. Jesus Himself gave thanks. Before feeding the five thousand. At the Last Supper, knowing that suffering lay immediately ahead, He gave thanks.
Thanksgiving isn't dependent upon having an easy life. It is gratitude that protects us from constantly wanting more! The world teaches us to look at what others have and ask, “Why don't I have that?” Gratitude teaches us to look at what God has already given us and say, “Thank You.”
Paul told us: “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” (Philippians 4:11) He had learned contentment. We can learn it too.
Try beginning each day by deliberately thanking God for three things. (They don't need to be dramatic). Thank Him for another day, for someone you love, for His forgiveness, His Word, or simply for His presence.
And when something goes wrong, ask, “Lord, is there something I can thank You for even here?”
You may not be able to thank God for the difficulty, but you can thank Him that He is with you in it.
Gratitude transforms ordinary days into worship. Don't wait for something extraordinary before you give thanks. Look around you. Notice. Receive. And say, “Thank You, Lord.”
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Let us pray, "Heavenly Father, once again I am humbled by Your Awesome Faithfulness, and I thank You that You persevere with me even when I am so ungrateful..." Amen!
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