Gratitude

Why Be Thankful?

Dr. Mike 2025 , , ,


“…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  1 Thessalonians 5:18

Ever notice how difficult it is to be thankful in all circumstances? Especially in those hard times when your world is broken. When the people around you don’t even know you exist. When you are in pain. When you are physically, mentally, and emotionally drain. Those times when you don’t want to speak with anyone. You only want to withdraw and cry. Those are the times when you feel no one seems to understand what you are going through. You are in a self-pity party and no one else wants to show up.

We have all been there. If not yet, wait. One day you will find yourself at the end of yourself. In need of a savior.

The apostle Paul writes here that we all need to give thanks in all circumstances. Why? Because that is how the Triune God acts.

Through the incarnation, you and I are now buried and resurrected in Christ. Baptism reminds us of this. When we surrendered to Jesus, we committed ourselves to follow HIM. Our responsibility today is to learn to live the way Jesus lived. We don’t become like HIM via fiat. It is a process of transformation of the mind, heart, and will.

Every watch how parents struggle to teach their child when and how to express the words “thank you?” It doesn’t happen naturally. When someone gives their child a present, the parent coaches the child to say thank you. Most often, the child is repeatedly reminded. Then one day the words come out without the parent’s nudge. The entire process of learning may take years. Yet this is only behavior modification.

How much longer do you think it takes for the Holy Spirit to train our emotional heart to be thankful? Where our spirit is thankful without any coaching. And not only thankful, but with loving action. Where we follow through with our willpower to act like Jesus in the circumstances we face.

When we are thankful from the heart, we are expressing love in the situation. We are acknowledging our humanity and appreciation for what we gracefully receive. We are also focusing on God who is the ultimate giver. In a sense, being thankful is a mode of repentance. We are refocusing our mind toward Father-Son-Spirit. The giver of all good gifts.

When we are truly thankful, our attention is focus on others and not ourself. We find in so doing God’s love is extended toward others. The giver shares in their act of giving. They are being blessed. Jesus reminds us (Acts 20:35), “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” The cycle of giving and receiving allows both to enjoy the experience.

Thankfulness is the starting gun of every race. It leads one into putting everything in perspective. It allows love to lead. It focuses on God and others before self. It allows our spirit to align with God’s Spirit in the moment.

Learn to be thankful and you will learn to be more like Jesus.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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Thankful Heart

Dr. Mike 2021, grace, Kingdom Paradigms, Living the Psalms , ,

I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
    before the gods I sing your praise;
2 I bow down toward your holy temple
    and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
    for you have exalted above all things
    your name and your word.[a]
3 On the day I called, you answered me;
    my strength of soul you increased.[b]

4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord,
    for they have heard the words of your mouth,
5 and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
    for great is the glory of the Lord.
6 For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly,
    but the haughty he knows from afar.

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
    you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
    and your right hand delivers me.
8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
    your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.
    Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Psalm 138: 1-8 (ESV)

A thankful heart is the expressive attitude of a follower of Jesus Christ. When one comes to understand who HE IS and what HE has done, and what HE plans to accomplish with you and me, one can only drop to their knees with a grateful heart and thank HIM.

A thankful heart is the byproduct of gratitude which also leads to a more outgoing concern for the needs of others; and the heartfelt compassion and generosity are also balanced with truth and justice.

A thankful heart acknowledges God has given you and me boundaries to operate with for our good and the good of others. Instead of ruling over others, we serve them. Instead of showering others with empty rhetoric and fortitude, the thankful heart understands the value of the individual human spirit facing challenges and encourages them to grow and mature.

A thankful heart is not swayed by pompous living and make-believe-utopias, but by the simple, natural understanding of human needs and the marvelous creation given to us to explore and experience.

A thankful heart bestows blessings on others without expectation of any returns.

A thankful heart knows when to lead and when to follow; and who not to follow.

A thankful heart loves to share their blessings with others.

A thankful heart sees the best in others.

A thankful heart also sees the lies, hypocrisies, and false impressions of others and avoids their delusional imprisonments.

A thankful heart is a repentant soul understanding their need for a Savior.

These are just a few of the thoughts that came across my mind this morning. For those who want to bathe their mind with more thankful thoughts, click on the links below to read past blogs:

Thanksgiving is All I Have

Thankfulness is Repentance in Action

Thank You Lord

Thank You Jesus Christ

Gratitude

Gratitude 101

Today I Get To…

PS: May You Have a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Author of e-Books

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

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Thank You Lord Jesus

Dr. Mike Life in Christ , ,

Psalm 57:9

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.

A thankful heart is a witness of God’s handiwork. One cannot walk with God for any length of time without noticing the change of heart in thanksgiving to Him. No wonder why Scripture emphasizes this action throughout the entire Bible. Therefore, rather than I write a few more words of being and expressing thankfulness, below are a few Scriptures taken from the English Standard Version of the Bible. Read responsibly and let the Holy Spirit interpret each verse for you.

1 Timothy 4:4

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,

1 Thessalonians 3:9

For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God,

1 Thessalonians 5:18

…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Colossians 2:7

…rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Ephesians 5:20

…giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

2 Corinthians 2:14

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.

2 Corinthians 4:15

For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 9:15

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

2 Corinthians 9:11

You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

1 Corinthians 1:4

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,

Romans 1:21

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Romans 14:6

The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.

Acts 27:35

And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat.

Luke 22:19

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Daniel 6:10

When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.

Jeremiah 33:11

…the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices of those who sing, as they bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord: “‘Give thanks to the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!’ For I will restore the fortunes of the land as at first, says the Lord.

Isaiah 12:4

And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.

Psalm 9:1

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

Psalm 28:7

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

Psalm 30:4

Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name.

Psalm 44:8

In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name forever.

Psalm 50:14

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High,

Psalm 50:23

The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!”

Psalm 57:9

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.

Psalm 69:30

I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.

Psalm 86:12

I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.

Psalm 92:1

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High;

Psalm 95:2

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

Psalm 100:4

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

Psalm 106:1

Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
Author of e-Books:

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

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