The Habit of Thanks

Last night a group of ladies gathered together during our monthly women's ministry night, and we had a wonderful time of worship - a sweet aroma of adoration, soaking in the precious love of the Lord, sharing our heart of thanks to Him and praying for others. I sat there wishing more would have experienced His arms of love that were so tangible to each one of us there!
One of the things I shared with these women as be gathered was the importance of nurturing a habit of thanksgiving - a heart of gratitude. So often we very quickly and easily can rehearse - which by the way, when you dissect this word you get - re...hear...se - what we rehearse, we re hear and re see in our lives, minds and emotions....but that's another whole story, sermon, teaching, maybe even book.... But instead of declaring the good things that God has done, often we get caught in the cycle of rehearsing and talking about the hard places, difficulties, test, trials, hurts etc., and we then walk in the habit of negativity, complaining, depression, which all feed hopelessness. This aught not to be - yet I myself have lived many years just like that. But no more! God has transformed my mind and heart to one that practices the habit of thanksgiving - a heart of gratitude! And everything - I mean everything is different in my life now!
Ephesians 5:20 says always (and I'll repeat - make the habit of - always...) give thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God.
Colossians 3:17 says Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
What does that mean for us when things are painful - destruction is at your doorstep - and everything seems to be pushing you down? It means...we turn our eyes and hearts to Jesus and worship Him with a sacrifice of thanksgiving.
In my early 20's my life was so hard! Trauma, pain, heartache, brokenness, fear, were my constant companions. I was so tired, worn out and overwhelmed. I remember one day all this came to a head and as I was standing in the shower crying, sobbing really, angry that all this was going on in my life. But as I was standing there, water pouring over me, the Holy Spirit nudged my heart to give thanks. "Give thanks - for what!" My mind kind of rebelled at that thought. But, with tears and a clenched jaw, I began... "God, I don't want to, I don't feel like it, I don't know how I can, but You said to give thanks so...thank you for these stinking tears! Thank you for this miserable stuffed nose and headache! Thank you for this terrible day"..... that's how it began, not very pretty, but it began - and before long..."Thank you for this shower, this warm water to wash over me! Thank you for this home! Thank you God that I can be real with You!".... and with each voiced thanks, my heart changed, thank by thank that was spoken out....and eventually, with calmness and tears of hope, "God, thank you for Your help! Thank you for healing my heart! Thank you for these difficult times! Thank you that You are always with me! Thank you for Your goodness and faithfulness! Thank you for loving me!" And I was completely bathed in comfort and peace, washed in in the Living Water flowing over me - transformed...all because of giving thanks! Since that time, I have made thanksgiving a habit in my life.
Will you thank Him today - no matter what you're experiencing? If that's a struggle for you, the Holy Spirit is right there to help - ask Him! It will change your life!

Writings from Life Through...To A Shout of Joy

The Walk of Joy

DO...

As Zechariah 4:6 says, it's "Not by might nor by power but by My Spirit..." We need Jesus! When we feel down or become agitated and angry, how does our flesh want to react? We automatically act out what we feel. But with the help of the Holy Spirit we can step back, allow Him to work in us and respond the way He would. We need the help and power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives, but we also need to "do" our part. We need to choose to respond with the Lord's help instead of choosing to react in our flesh. This may take some work, but as Paul says in Colossians 1:29, "I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me."

Living in His Joy and Strength - with a heart of gratitude!!

See you next week!

I'd love to hear from you... how the habit of giving thanks has help or changed your life!