Give Thanks For Small Things!

November 7

Give Thanks For Small Things!

With all the amazing promises and prolific accusations in the political arena these days, it is quite easy to become cynical, pessimistic, and critical.  Somewhere on that journey down, we often become discouraged and negative.

Of course, the political realm can often lead us down this path of doom and gloom.  But, there are other environments to which we often respond in those same cynical, pessimistic, and critical ways. 

For some, it is a relationship with someone in our family that drags us down.  For others, it may be a situation at work that invites us to be negative.  For still others, it can be a divorce or a death that encourages us to go to a low place.  And, for some it may be a struggle with our physical or mental health that summons us to a dark place.    

It’s time for you and me to live our lives in a different way!

I am not suggesting we put our head in the sand and pretend there are no problems in our world or struggles in our lives.  Instead, I invite you to consider that we can choose to be thankful for the good things as well as for the things that don’t appear and/or feel quite so good.

In I Thessalonians 5:16-18 Paul writes; “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 

Paul encourages us to give thanks in all circumstances.  We are called to give thanks even when our current circumstance is good, bad, or ugly.  We are called to give thanks even when our current circumstance is painful, dreadful, or filled with sadness.  We are called to give thanks even when our current circumstance leaves us feeling helpless, hopeless, or hurting. 

Paul says, “give thanks in all circumstances.”

Giving thanks often requires discipline and accountability.  Think about it for a moment.

How many times has someone blessed us with a kind word and we did not give thanks to Jesus?  How many times has something unexpected and wonderful happened and we did not give thanks to Jesus?  How many times has a door been opened, a strained relationship restored, or an unexpected resource given and we did not give thanks to Jesus?

Sometimes it requires both discipline and accountability in order for us to give thanks in all circumstances.

Paul ties together rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks.  Rejoicing is our response to the joy that flows from our heart when we give thanks while prayer is the tool we use to give thanks. 

I am confident you would like your heart to overflow with even more joy.  I am quite sure you would like your prayers to be filled even more with the life-giving presence of Jesus.  I am sure you would like your mind to focus more upon that for which you are thankful rather than that which leads you to be discouraged and desperate.

Here is a plan to strengthen your discipline to rejoice and give thanks to the Lord.

1. Give thanks for three small things each day.  Begin today (November 7) and continue through Thanksgiving Day (November 28).  That is 22 days!
2. Write down each of the three small things for which you are giving thanks each day.  Keep a running list!
3. Do not repeat any of the small things for which you have already given thanks to Jesus.  Each day is a new day with a new list!
4. On Thanksgiving Day, read through your entire list (that should be 66 different small things!) for which you have given thanks to Jesus.  Take some time between the turkey, the game, and conversation to give thanks to Jesus for all 66 of these small things.

In I Thessalonians 5:16-18 Paul writes; “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  As you move through your 22 days of giving thanks for small things, remember that you can give thanks in all circumstances; the good, the bad, and the ugly!

When your heart overflows with thanks for the small things, you will delight more and more in God’s goodness, generosity, and grace. 

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug