Recently I was watching a program by Joyce Meyer showing women in a village of Africa who were forced to pay for their existence and their childrens’ by prostitution. Many of them have to live with several other women and their children. The way that they are forced to live is an abomination!!!!!!!!!!!!
We on the other hand have every luxury imaginable! Yet what do we do? Complain, grumble, and rant and rave because we are not getting our own way. We can turn on the tap and have clear cold running water to drink. We can turn on hot and cold water and take a shower. We can get in our cars and load up on groceries. We can sit down to watch a good program on the TV. Yet we complain about the price of gas.
This should not be. In1 Thess.5:16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is Gods will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. When we begin to do God’s will, we will find it easier to be joyful and thankful. Thankful people can worship wholeheartedly. Gratitude opens our hearts to God’s peace and enables us to put on love. Discontented people constantly calculate what’s wrong with their lot in life.
To increase your thankfulness, take an inventory of all you have. Use the inventory for prayers of gratitude. Take the time to reflect on reason for thanks. Celebrate God’s goodness to you, and ask in prayer for all your needs for the week ahead.
Here are just a few but important things that we can be grateful to God for. We can be thankful for God’s provision. We have not gone hungry, or without clothing or shelter. We can be thankful for all of his blessings. We can be thankful for our families and friends.We can be thankful for God’s character and wonderful works.
So instead of dwelling on the things that we don’t have, let us give thanks to our wonderful God who provides all of our needs. In Matt. 6:33 God says: Seek first the kingdom of God and all His righteousnes, and all these things will be added on to you. Put God first in your life, to fill your thoughts with his desires, to take his character for your pattern, and to serve and obey him in everything. (NLT COM) What is really important to you? Perhaps you are not happy or grateful because you may need to change your priorities. When you set your sites on God, he will show you how you can live a grateful life, giving thanks to Him for everything.
If you have not yet made Jesus the LORD of your life, you can do that now. Confess that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. Turn away from your sin, and ask Him to come into your heart and life. He’s just waiting for you to ask. He loves you and wants only the best for you. Do it now. It’s the best decision you’ll ever make. God Bless!!!!!!!!!
