A Thankful Heart

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name (Hebrews 13:15).

Giving thanks shouldn't be something we do on a special Thursday in November or occasionally when we think of it. Even thanking God for our food before meals or when we recognize a special blessing is not enough. We need to live with an attitude of thankfulness. We can cultivate a thankful heart; it's a choice we make. Paul gave thanks in all his situations (and he went through beatings, imprisonment, and death) because he knew God would use him for good, even in bad circumstances. Do you trust God that much?

As ye therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye with him: Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving (Colossians 2:6-7).

In Jesus Calling, Sarah Young writes, "A thankful heart opens the windows of heaven.... Thankfulness opens you up to these experiences [glimpses of heaven's glory], which provide further reasons to be grateful" (p.341). Isn't this a marvelous cycle of blessings, understanding how great God is and recognizing how good He is to us? Cultivate a thankful heart and attitude and see how much better your life seems.

"O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever" (1 Chronicles 16:34).

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