With today being Thanksgiving I thought it would be good to take time to reflect on all of the things we can be thankful for. In the devotion below, which I shared earlier this year, I have listed six reasons we should always have a thankful heart. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
One of the most powerful ways to have continual victory in our Christian walk is to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. A thankful heart leaves no room for complaining but plenty of room for praising God; both in the good times and during the trials of life. Not only that but a thankful heart opens the door to continued blessings from our heavenly Father. I would like to share with you now six reasons why having a thankful heart is the best investment you can ever make with your time, your talents, and your treasury.
A thankful heart is the will of God (1)
(1 Thessalonians 5:18) tells us: “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” As Christians one of the greatest desires of our heart should be to always be in the will of God. In this verse we can see plainly that God’s will for us is to have a thankful heart. To be ungrateful or to have a complaining spirit clearly takes us out of God’s will. So, the first reason to always be thankful is because it’s God’s will. And that is a great reason in my book.
A thankful heart brings positive mental and emotional health (2)
(Proverbs 17:22) states: “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Did you know that a thankful heart is better for your mental and emotional health than any vitamin. Being thankful has a wonderful way of banishing negativity which so often lead to weighing adversely on our emotional well-being. Thankful people even make others around them feel better. Having an attitude of gratitude is the best way I know of to improve one’s down in the dumps state of mind.
A thankful heart leads to positive physical health (3)
Science has clearly demonstrated that the way you think has a profound effect on your overall physical health. People who aren’t thankful often dwell on thoughts of envy, jealousy, anger, bitterness and a host of other negative emotions. How your overall physical health can suffer can be seen if we understand that the emotional center of the brain is constantly transmitting impulses through nerve fibers to every organ and area of the body. It is now well known and medically proven that a negative state of mind can produce almost any illness imaginable. In contrast a thankful spirit transmits soothing energy throughout one’s body which can heal many of the diseases that a negative spirit can cause. (Proverbs 16:24) says it so well: “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” So be thankful – you will live longer!
A thankful heart glorifies God (4)
I can think of nothing as important then to glorify God through our thoughts, words, and actions. And when we offer up thanksgiving to God we do just that. Psalm (50:23 ESV) says: “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me.” And I personally believe that when you offer up thanksgiving to God when you are going through difficult times you will receive a double blessing. When you are thankful to God during trials it shows you trust Him to turn even the darkest moments into blessings. God is in the business of turning negative situations into positive outcomes. Remember the story when Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. We read near the end of Genesis the outcome: “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to keep many people alive.” (Genesis 50:20). So, thank God at all times – it brings Him glory!
A thankful heart will help you get answers to your prayers (5)
Just what happens when you live your life with a thankful heart? Well first, it shows that you are in the will of God as we discussed in point 1. Second, it brings glory to God. Third, a thankful heart, especially when you are going through difficult times, shows you trust God. And fourth, a heart of gratitude leaves no room for complaining; which is one of the main reasons God was so displeased with the Israelites when they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. I believe when someone is walking in God’s will, glorifying His name, trusting God in all situations, and praising instead of complaining all the time, that they have a much greater chance to see God answer their prayers! It just stands to reason.
A thankful heart produces smiles (6)
Smiles are an amazing thing. They can brighten a person’s day without the necessity of words. They can lift up a downtrodden spirit. And, yes, a thankful heart and an attitude of gratitude can produce smiles almost automatically. I also believe, when we give thanks in the midst of difficulty, we bring pleasure to God’s heart and put a smile on His face. And what an awesome thought that a thankful heart can cause the God of the universe to smile!