Live with a Thankful Heart
In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Live with a thankful heart no matter what is happening in this worldly life. Jesus died for our sins, and we accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, we now live in God’s family and Heaven is our home. Christ lives in our hearts and through the Spirit He guides us through life with his love and power, and no one can snatch us out of God’s hands. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. (John 10:28)
With the blessings we receive from God through Christ, we can have a thankful heart every day. We can thank God for everything, including things we normally take for granted. Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples. (1 Chronicles 16:8) If we witness to others with a thankful heart with joy; people we see it and we can explain the joy we have in Christ.
The more we thank the Lord for everything, the more we realize how much we depend on the Lord. It’s a great blessing when we depend on the Lord because it brings us closer to the Lord with stronger faith. A thankful heart for all Christ has done for us will increase the love in our hearts which draws us closer to the Lord. With thankful dependent hearts we eagerly desire to be the Lord’s servant, and we need Christ with us at all times.
A thankful heart changes us: brings contentment, we become dependent on the Lord, our faith and joy increases, increases the love in our hearts, and gives us the desire to serve Christ. Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. (Psalm 100:4) Having a thankful heart for what the Lord has done for us, brings us not only a thankful heart but also contentment.
Having a thankful heart requires we stop taking things for granted. Make a list of everything good in your life and be thankful every day. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17) List things like the following; life, place to life, food to eat, bed to sleep in, and transportation, because everything good comes from the Lord.
We have a thankful heart even when life is difficult. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28) God will use everything for our good, which includes anything Satan can do to us through this fallen world.
Today have a thankful heart for everything good in your day, and know whatever happens God will use it for your good.
Prayer: Lord instill in me a truly thankful heart, that thanks You every day for the things I have taken for granted. I know everything good comes from You, and You will carry me through anything in life and use it for my good. In Jesus name, Amen