“Oh, how grateful and thankful I am to the Lord because He is so good. I will sing praise to the name of the Lord who is above all lords.”—Psalms 7:17 (TLB).
One of my daddy’s favorite sayings was, “It doesn’t do any good to complain because no one wants to hear it.”
I find myself repeating that saying when someone asks me, “How are you doing?” While I could complain about my aches and pains, I doubt anyone cares to hear about them—unless it’s my doctor.
Recently, I spied a man walking down the sidewalk. His uneven gait and twisted body were obviously due to a birth defect. In his hand, he carried a lunch pail. After praying for him, I thought “There but for the grace of God, go I.”
Being Thankful for God’s Grace
In 1 Corinthians 15:9-10, the apostle Paul describes God’s grace. “For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.”
Paul was a persecutor of Christians. But then he met Jesus on the road to Damascus and went from killing those who believed in Him to proclaiming the good news of Jesus. Only by God’s grace.
As sinful creatures in need of God’s grace, we should be thankful at all times and in every circumstance. But we’re not. Like Paul, we have no special qualifications that make us worthy of salvation.
Being Thankful at All Times
When we’re facing trials, it’s difficult to be thankful. It’s easier to complain when things don’t go our way. However, I’ve discovered that being grateful stirs the spirit to give thanks to God. Study the scriptures and you’ll find reasons to give thanks to God. Here are seven great reasons:
- Give thanks for His love. (John 3:16)
- Give thanks for His provision. (Matthew 6:26)
- Give thanks for His forgiveness. (John 1:16)
- Give thanks for His Word. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
- Give thanks for His creation. (Psalm 136:3-9)
- Give thanks to God in all circumstances. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
- Give thanks to God for He has good plans for you. (Jeremiah 29:11)
Evangelist Billy Graham said this about giving thanks. “Thanksgiving—the giving of thanks—to God for all His blessings should be one of the most distinctive marks of the believer in Jesus Christ. We must not allow a spirit of ingratitude to harden our heart and chill our relationship with God and with others.”
There is always, always, always something to be grateful for. Make a gratitude list to remind you of your blessings.
I always love hearing from my readers. Please feel free to e-mail me at carol@carolaround.com with your thoughts or visit my blog for more inspiration at www.carolaround.com. If you need a speaker or workshop leader, you can contact me at the above e-mail or through my website. I’d be delighted to hear from you.
Photo credit: markgungor.com
Inspiring post. So often we gripe about what is wrong instead of appreciating what is right in our world. Realizing all we have lightens our days. And all we have to say is thank you.
You are so right, JQ. I try to find the positive but sometimes it’s difficult when our world is filled with negativity. I always love hearing the positive news that some national news stations end their evening reports with. For example, recently, there was an ABC report of a young girl with Down syndrome who was competing in marathons. What an inspiration! Blessings always!!
Thank you, Carol for your daily thoughts! My family and I read your contribution in the Upper Room this morning, November 14th. More inspiration in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Thank you, Samuel. I appreciate your feedback. It is affirms I am doing what He has called me to do. Blessings always! In HIS grip! Carol
This text beautifully encapsulates the essence of gratitude, seamlessly blending personal anecdotes with biblical wisdom. It’s a poignant reminder of the transformative power of thankfulness, especially in a world where negativity often seems to prevail. The reference to Psalms 7:17 and 1 Corinthians 15:9-10 not only grounds your message in scripture but also makes it deeply relatable and authentic. Your story about observing the man with a birth defect and finding a moment of grace in that experience is particularly moving. It’s a vivid illustration of how shifting our focus from our problems to our blessings can profoundly change our… Read more »
Thank you for the beautiful feedback, Paul. I am always humbled and appreciate hearing from readers because it affirms I am obeying God. I always pray before sitting down to write and ask the Holy Spirit to give me the words I need to reach the people He wants me to reach. He always does! Blessings always!