It’s the week of the Thanksgiving holiday, full of travel and meal planning as we visit with family and friends.
Let me ask you, is giving thanks easy for you, or are you more inclined to grumble and complain?
Did you know that both giving thanks and complaining are contagious?
Paul tells us that as God’s grace multiplies to people; it leads people to give thanks.
So, God’s grace compounds thanksgiving.
On the other hand, losing sight of God’s grace will lead to the compounding of grumbling and complaining.
So, which would you rather infect people with: gratitude or groaning?
Now, what should you do if you find yourself down in the dumps?
Start making a list of things you are thankful for. Force yourself to do it.
Here’s a challenging statement: “What if you woke up tomorrow with only what you were grateful for today?”
Answering that question should result in a lengthy list of thanksgiving.
Once you have your list going, start to share it with someone.
Most people will either rejoice with you and in turn share something they are thankful for too.
Then, they will be motivated to tell another person what they are thankful for too and it will compound an attitude of gratitude.
Giving thanks is personal. No one can do it for you.
Think about this: of all the different types of offerings in the Law, the thank offering was the one that the worshiper had to carry himself to offer to the Lord.
It was not something that could be delegated to the priests.
Perhaps, that was because God wanted to see sincere personal effort on the part of the worshiper.
So, do you need to break free from the disease of a complaining spirit?
Start worshiping God by giving thanks. Soon, you will find yourself giving thanks in all things like Paul exhorts in 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
The result will be that you will develop an infectious spirit; you will infect others with a spirit of thanksgiving that lasts all year long.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Robyn Henning