The Importance of Gratitude

A recent status update on Facebook changed my day. It was simply
this: "What if God blessed you tomorrow based on what you thank Him for
today?"



Astounding thought,isn't it?



We are so quick to take
our problems and requests to God, and we certainly need to. But we're
also reminded (and commanded!) throughout scripture to give thanks, and
this is where we fall short.



Here are a few examples:



When you sacrifice a Thanksgiving-Offering to God, do it right so it will be acceptable. ~Leviticus 22:29 (MSG)



Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
   His love endures forever. ~1 Chronicles 16:34 (NIV)




Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. ~Psalm 100:4 (NIV)



Now
when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to
his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three
times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. ~Daniel 6:10 (NIV)



One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked Him—and he was a Samaritan. ~Luke 17:15-16 (NIV)



Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ~Philippians 4:6 (NIV)



...give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. ~1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)



"Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!" ~Revelation 7:12 (NIV)



God
is sooooooo worthy of our thanksgiving, even when we're going through
rough times. He has given His Son as the sacrifice for us, so that we
might be healed of mankind's worst and most deadly disease ever--sin! If that isn't reason to thank Him, I don't what is.




But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ~1 Corinthians 15:57 (NIV)

 



Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! ~2 Corinthians 9:15 (NIV)




Heavenly Father, forgive us for our lack of gratitude. On
our best days we remember to say thanks for the blessings of that day,
but help us to remember to thank You in the midst of difficulty as well.
Thank You for all the things we take for granted: a bed to sleep in,
clean water, food, shelter, health, our families, and so much more.
Thank You especially for the victory that is ours through Jesus Christ!
Amen!




Thanksgiving's not just a day; it's a way of living...