Over a month ago my older sister issued a challenge to my family – go 30 days without whining or complaining and instead, spend that time thanking God. And hopefully some of you will remember that I issued a challenge last week to look for 50 different things during the week for which to thank God.
And yes, I actually did my own challenge. And I have to tell you it was amazing how by the end of the week my heart was overflowing with praise and gratitude. All of a sudden I saw reasons to thank God that I had never seen before. I saw situations and circumstances in a new light.
In fact, Natty came down with a fever one night and was sick at the end of the week, and I sat up late rocking her trying to get her to sleep. Normally when I’m up late with the kids I am frustrated and cranky that I’m awake instead of in bed. But this time I used that moment to thank God for different things.
What simply saying thank You to God did to my heart was incredible.
I was overwhelmed with the goodness of God. I was overflowing with the joy that God gives in the midst of every circumstance. I was blown away by the peace that I had. And I was amazed at the hope I felt. I just kept thinking “God is so good! And He’s got life under control. I can just sit back, relax, and enjoy rocking my daughter!”
It was one of the sweetest times I’ve ever had with God.
And I believe it came because I spent the time thanking God instead of whining and complaining.
Gratitude is powerful.
- The Holy Spirit can use gratitude to open your blind eyes to the blessings of God that you’ve never seen before.
- The Holy Spirit can use thankfulness to raise your soul out of the gutter of despair and place within you the joy of the Lord.
- The Holy Spirit can use gratitude to give you hope in a hopeless world as you realize your God is in control, your God is amazing, and your God is good.
Believer, may we choose to be a thankful people. May we use every opportunity to declare how great and good our God is. How many blessings He has given to us. How great a salvation we have. May we privately and publicly declare our praise and thankfulness to God.
In everything may you give thanks and through that may you see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.