Holiday Rhythms: Thankfulness
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Thankfulness. Do you ever struggle with being thankful in all things as God has told us to be as follows of Christ? If we are truly being honest, I think a lot, if not most of us, would say yes; there are times that it is challenging to be thankful during certain events in our lives. I have heard that many new Christians leave the faith because whoever led them to Christ forgot to tell them that the real challenge begins when they become a believer because of the spiritual warfare for our minds, bodies, and souls.
Now, please know that I am not blaming us Christians; I am simply sharing for us to consider how we project thankfulness to others when we hit hard times in our lives. We don’t want to gloss over it and pretend all is wonderful, and we don’t want to get caught in the poor me, either. It is human nature and quite easy to get caught up in the “why me” or “what did I do to deserve this?” or the other very detrimental thought of “I am not worthy” or “I deserve this because of my bad choices in the past.” Or maybe you have really tried hard to be thankful in all things, and it just does not feel authentic. Well, friend, you are not alone. This is a natural and human struggle that the Lord wants to truly help us with so we can live life to the full as stated in John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
We know being thankful means to authentically express gratitude and appreciation for all the things in our lives: the good, the bad, and the ugly. During Thanksgiving, the world tells us to reflect on the positive aspects of our lives, show appreciation for the people and things that enrich our lives, and acknowledge all the wonderful things we have in life or have experienced in life. Which is wonderful and I recommend that you do this for sure. But ladies, I challenge you to look at your not-so-good experiences or choices and reflect on how they have made you who you are today. You see, our every choice and every circumstance can be used to help us learn and grow closer to our Lord and Savior and grow as a person, or it can taint us and make us resentful, angry, or, worst of all, feel unworthy of the true inner joy and peace God promises us. These thoughts start in our mind and then infiltrate our entire being: mind, body, and soul.
God truly wants us to be thankful as we read in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV): "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
Yes, it does say in all circumstances. We may want to brush over this part during the holiday season and just focus on the positive things that have happened to us or what we have. Which is wonderful and I strongly encourage you to do so. I am certainly not advocating for a doom and gloom Thanksgiving, but as we wind up the year and go into a new year, I do challenge you to reflect on where your heart is with being thankful in all things and how it is affecting your overall life. Only you and the Lord know where you are with this. And He, my friend, wants you to experience life to the full as stated in John 10:10: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." And you can only do this or try to get better at this when you are truly “in sync” with the Lord. Being “in sync” means the state where two or more things are harmoniously coordinated or aligned with each other in terms of timing, rhythm, or action. When things are “in sync,” they work together smoothly, producing a sense of unity. I so want to be “in sync” with our Lord and Saviour and I think you want to as well. Especially if you are reading this blog. Is God talking to you right now? Is he asking you to lean in on Him more to get “in sync” with Him? He wants us to truly do this as in Philippians 4:6 (NIV): "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
The season that I am in right now, I am in training to seek the Lord in every situation throughout the day so it becomes a habit. Which means I will do it automatically on a daily basis. As in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIV): "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore, I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."
My friend, we always talk about and want to be “in sync” with the Lord so we can hear him answer our prayers, guide our lives, etc.; but, it is so hard with the way our culture is. The busyness of life with work, family, church, commitments, etc. So, if you are struggling with even starting the process or making it a habit, here are a few practical tips on how I am in training:
1. Intentional time with God when I get up. Even if it is 5 - 10 minutes to sit quietly and reflect on one verse. I usually write it down on a notecard for the week or even the month.
2. Renew my mind every morning as in Romans 12:2. "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will." There is so much research about this, so simply capture those negative thoughts and turn them into positive thoughts. Use the verbiage “I get to go to go to work” instead of “I have to go to work.” Incorporate “I get to….”
3. Take your one scripture verse on a notecard with you and pull it out and read it as often as possible. Even in the line at the grocery store. Read it to your kids or have your kids read it to you while in the car.
4. When you pray, expect God to answer your prayers.
Ladies, make no mistake about this, the world desperately needs you to show the love of Christ and build relationships for Kingdom purpose. You are worthy and you have all you need to serve in capacities that you have never thought of before or only dreamed of. It starts in your mind, intentionality with your thoughts and time.
As I end the blog, I pray:
Dear Heavenly Father, I ask that you wrap your arms around the precious woman who is reading this blog today. You brought her here for a reason so fill her with your love and thankfulness. Let her feel your love and presence in her daily life, no matter the circumstance. Keep her eyes focused on you and the scripture found in Psalm 136:26 (NIV): "Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever." Your love endures forever and we thank you, Heavenly Father, for this. In Jesus name, Amen,