Monday Morning Devotion-November 25, 2019

Being Thankful

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails, and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God y Savior.    Habakkuk. 3:17-18

            How's this for a good start?

            "A thankful attitude opens windows of heaven.  Spiritual blessings fall freely onto you through those openings into eternity.  Moreover, as you look up with a grateful heart, you get glimpses of Glory through those windows."

            Pretty good reasons to be thankful, I'd say.  Thanks Sarah Young ("Jesus Calling") for reminding us of why we should give thanks every day and in every circumstance.

            Young adds: "Thankfulness is not some sort of magic formula; it is the language of Love, which enables you to communicate intimately with Me (God).  A thankful mind-set does not entail a denial of reality with its plethora of problems.  Instead, it rejoices in Me, your Savior, in the midst of trials and tribulations."

            With the Thanksgiving Holiday upon us it is a great time to give thanks and recall our many blessings.  Thankfulness is the theme.  Too bad that the emphasis on being thankful sometimes fades away after this holiday. 

            Likewise, we find it more difficult to give thanks in the midst of troubles, but that is exactly the time that we most need to express our thanks.  We can all think back to how we made it through some difficult times in our life.  And whether we admit it or not, it was the Lord who brought us through those no matter if we sought His help or not. 

            This brings to mind some sage advice I recently came across from the late President Ronald Reagan, that I shared on my Facebook account.  The movie-star turned national leader, recalling how important it is to live a life filled with thankfulness, offered these words of wisdom:

            "Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, leave the rest to God."

            When we follow that advice the end result is that we become more thankful for all of God's blessings.  Psalms 100:4 instructs us to "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise, give thanks to Him and praise His Name.

            But, where are these gates and courts that the Psalmist is talking about?

            The Quest Study Bible clarifies this: "These words borrow from practices familiar to ancient culture.  Gates were often used as places to conduct legal business; the open enclosures were often used as places to conduct legal business; the courtyards were used for large assemblies of people. The temple gates and courts symbolized the idea of meeting with God."

            ChristianityDaily.com says that the way this verse is structured it is not a suggestion rather it is a definite command.  Then it goes on to give us reasons why we are commanded to give thanks to God.  "Giving thanks keeps us in a right relationship with God and allows us to maintain a good perspective on life.  When our hearts are filled with thanksgiving, we keep the sins and temptations of greed, selfishness and self-sufficiency away.  As Christians thank God daily, they are reminded of everything that God has given to them.  Everything is from God.  Thanksgiving reminds Christians of what they have and the blessings they have received from the Lord."

            Writing in USA Today about how giving thanks can have powerful health benefits, Kim Painter says:  These benefits "come from the simple act of thanking God, thanking others or just counting your blessings.  Saying thanks, it turns out, isn't just pious or polite.  It's good for you."

            Researcher Robert Emmons, a professor of psychology and author of the book (Thanks!  How Practicing Gratitude Can Make You Happier) talks about the importance of showing gratitude, i.e. giving thanks. "Practicing gratitude is like exercising. Use it and you won't lose it, even when times are tough, as they are for many folks right now. "

            "Those who maintain a thankful attitude through life appear to have lower risks of several disorders, including depression, phobias, bulimia and alcoholism."

            Emmons adds: "When you express a feeling, you amplify it.  When you express anger, you get angrier, when you express gratitude, you become more grateful.  And grateful people don't focus so much on pain and problems.  They are also quicker to realize they have friends, families and communities to assist them in times of need.  They see how they can help others in distress as well."

            The word "Thanks" appears 73 times in the King James Version of the Bible while "Thanksgiving" is found in 28 Bible verses.  Additionally, "Gratitude" which inspires a "Thankful Heart" is seen in 42 verses.  It is obvious that giving thanks and having gratitude for all the good things we are blessed with is important.

            Giving thanks is something we need to remember to do.  It makes us feel better and it makes those receiving thanks feel good too.  Saying thank you is something we have to constantly remind our four-year-old granddaughter, Ellee, to do.  In doing so we remind ourselves of the importance of simply saying "thank you."

            The best way to get your day off to a good start is to give thanks to the Lord.  I always thank Him for the blessing of another day and that has a positive effect on me as I am reminded that each day is truly a gift from God.

            Give thanks to the Lord throughout the day for big things, small things, for problems that occur, (knowing He will help you with them) and for things that we take for granted.

            You will be blessed and your relationship with Him will grow stronger.

Prayer:  Thank you Lord for this reminder of the importance of giving thanks.    Amen!