The Power of Being Thankful: 365 Devotions for Discovering the Strength of Gratitude (53 page)

I think we all know—but need to be reminded on a regular basis—that God desires a thankful people, not a murmuring, grumbling, faultfinding people.

It is interesting to note as we study the history of the nation of Israel that this kind of negative attitude was a major problem that caused them to wander in the wilderness for 40 years before entering the Promised Land. We may call it by many names, but God called it “unbelief.”

God’s attitude is that if His people really believe Him, then no matter what happens in life, they will know that He is big enough to handle it and to make it work out for their good. Words of faith are filled with joyful expectation, and not with murmuring, faultfinding, and complaining. Joy and peace are the results of a thankful, believing attitude.

Father, I thank You that You are reminding me that there is blessing in a thankful, believing heart. Help me to trust in You no matter what the circumstances around me look like. I know You will provide for my every need.

The book of Proverbs is filled with Scriptures about holding your tongue because there is wisdom in discretion. Sometimes the wisest thing you can say is nothing at all. Before you start talking about things you feel strongly about, ask yourself how much you really need to say. Get quiet and listen to what
God
is saying. You’ll never regret saying what He wants you to say, the way He would say it.

I want to encourage you to concentrate on positive things and be thankful for these things. That will close the door to negative words and attitudes. As Romans 12:21 says, we overcome evil with good. In other words, if we stay busy doing right things, then there will be no room for the wrong ones. So make it your goal to do what is good before God, and enjoy the freedom and victory it brings to your life.

Father, I am so thankful that I can live in the wisdom You provide. Help me know when to speak up and when to be quiet. If it’s a conversation I should stay out of, I thank You that You will help me exercise self-control and be disciplined enough to do so.

Bickering between God’s people is nothing new. It was a problem in the early Church, just as it is now. Paul strongly encouraged and urged the church toward unity and wrote in Philippians 2:2: “Fill up and complete my joy by living in harmony and being of the same mind and one in purpose, having the same love, being in full accord and of one harmonious mind and intention.”

Where there’s unity, there’s blessing and anointing. When people are thankful for each other and choose to live in unity, they will experience the power of agreement. But the power of God can’t work in our lives if we stay bitter and angry toward people. His love can’t flow through us if we’re holding on to strife and resentment. Peace equals power, and no peace equals no power.

I thank You today, Father, for the power we can experience when we decide to come together in unity. Today, I choose to put aside strife and arguments in order to pursue peace and unity. I am grateful that You will help me do this in Your strength.

At various points in our lives, all of us feel we’re getting “out of our depth” or “in over our heads.” There are problems all around: A job is lost, someone dies, there is strife in the family, or a bad report comes from the doctor. When these things happen, our temptation is to panic because we feel we’ve lost control.

But think about it: The truth is that we’ve never been in control when it comes to life’s most crucial elements. The only thing that holds us up—and the thing we can be most grateful for—is the grace of God, our Father, and that won’t change. God is never out of His depth, and therefore, we’re safe when we’re in life’s “deep end” because we can trust that He will always carry us in His arms.

Thank You, Father, that You are a refuge for me. I know that because You are with me, I can feel safe and secure. Thank You that no matter how difficult life may seem, I can be at peace because You will never let me go.

God delights in our obedience. He wants to lead and guide us, but it does no good if we are not prepared to listen and obey. He has given us the capacity both to hear Him and to obey Him. God does not require a higher sacrifice than heartfelt obedience.

Some of what God asks you to do will be exciting, and some will not, but we should be equally prepared to follow Him either way. We can be thankful knowing that what He tells us to do will work out for good, if we will just do it His way.

If you want God’s will for your life, I can tell you the recipe in its simplest form:
Pray and obey
. God has given you the capacity to do both.

Father, I am thankful that You speak to my heart and guide me in the way I should go. Regardless of how difficult it may seem, I want to obey Your voice and trust that Your plan for my life is best. Thank You for loving me and speaking to my heart.