I am a man with much to be thankful for! But why do I find
it so hard to be thankful? Am I selfish? Do I suffer from blessing amnesia? Am
I not willing to look at the struggles and see them as blessings? Do I think
more highly of myself than I should at times?
Are there times I think less of the goodness of God in my life? Maybe
all of the above is true! No not maybe, yes all of the above is true!
I can be very self-centered thinking that the world, my
family, my job, EVERYTHING revolves around ME!!! I remember God’ goodness and
His blessings when times are good, but forget about it when hard times hit. I
can be full of pride and empty of humility when my eyes turn to me and not my
Savior! Please don’t be too quick to judge me, because if you really examined
your own heart you and I are not so different.
So why is it so hard to see the blessings in the brokenness?
Why is it so hard to reflect on the good things in our past? Why do we think
more of ourselves than we should? I am not sure! What I do know is that I have
to make a decision to praise Him in all circumstances; I have to decide to have
a thankful heart despite the situation. Notice I did not say my situation! I do
not believe my life can be summed up as a situation. Circumstances come my way
but they never have to be permanent. Situations feel permanent!
Circumstances can make you feel like you have been wronged!
You did not deserve that! Why would they do that to you? How dare they say
that! It is not fair!!!! Does that sound familiar? I know one person who did not echo
those words…Jesus! He did not deserve what He got! Yet, the Bible tells us He
never said a word. You talk about being wronged! Jesus was wronged! He was
betrayed by a friend and rejected by His people; one of His closest followers
denied even knowing Him. Talk about being hurt deeply! Christ was hurt deeply,
and it may not have been fair but there was a purpose!
His circumstances
where to bring about the Father’s plan for His life … and ours FORGIVENESS OF
SINS! Do you see where I am going with this? Our circumstances are to bring
about the Father’s plan for our lives… forgiveness, grace, strength, humility,
blessings, challenges, hope, salvation etc… the list could go on and on! I want
to be like Christ!
So I am going to be Thankful in all situations and circumstances!
I am going to praise Him for my family, life, ministry, children, wife, diabetes, etc…. Why? Because God has a plan for me, and my
friend He has a plan for you as well! Whatever you are going through today
pause for the cause and find something to have an attitude of gratitude!
