Lol. I almost started to write “day 22:…” in the title bar. 21 days truly curb the habit.
I’ve been a bit under the weather over the last few days, so I only get to write whenever I am actually awake (lots of sleeps, which is totally unlike me). But today, I just want to summarize what gratitude does. And I apologize for any typos in advance. lol
As I’ve been saying all the while, one of the easiest ways that the enemy will distract us is by trying to take our praise. Ingratitude breeds a lot of negative things… bitterness, unforgiveness, anger, hatred… you have no idea. So you will find that each day, there’s a reason to complain. I guarantee you that something will happen that will irritate you. Complaining about the things that happen to us has become such a common thing, that we actually believe it’s normal. We call it ‘freedom of speech’, ‘ saying how you feel’.
While we have those rights, isn’t it amazing that God’s word teaches us the total opposite? Paul said
“In everything give thanks… for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus”
Why in everything? Why not some things, and then you cue out in others? It’s God’s will. And why is it His will? I dunno. When you see Him ask Him.:P
But I believe that a part of why God wants us to have a grateful heart is so that we we don’t seep into sin. I’m going to go out on a limb here, and perhaps I am not correct, but why do most marriages end in divorce these days? Why is it that people hate Obama so much? What if they had Hitler for President? Why do we see so many people angry and frustrated at every little thing these days? Perhaps it’s because we keep complaining about what we don’t have, rather than be grateful for what we do have.
Take it into the spiritual. How easy it is to complain to God and blame Him when things aren’t going our way. I realized that for a little while, half of my prayers were about what God wasn’t doing for me. How He hadn’t answered my prayers. It’s so much easier to ‘vent’ at God for what He’s not doing, rather than give thanks for what He is doing. But which parent doesn’t feel hurt when his child cusses him out for the things he missed? Which parent would want to bless a child when that child is never grateful for the good gifts that have been given?
This is why I think it’s the will of God to give thanks. It’s for our own good. It will keep our relationships on fire, it will keep us happy on the job, and it will keep our storehouses full. I am not saying that we shouldn’t be upset when bad things happen, or when things seem to not go our way. But I’ve learned in this fast, that God always always looks out for his children. He doesn’t give bad gifts, and if He seems to not be pouring out His hand… one of the reasons could be that we’ve been very ungrateful children. It could be that we’ve become angry, callous, bitter at things…and even at God.
So we’re done the 21 days of gratitude devotion. I hope you’ve learned something…anything…. But most importantly I hope that you’ve learned that God loves a grateful spirit. So how’s about we continue to walk in an attitude of gratitude on a daily basis.
Thank God for at least one thing every day. Thank him for:
Your five senses, food, your friends and family, you are where you are and not where you used to be, your house/apt, travelling mercies, financial blessings, yourself, seasons, small victories, deliverance from evil traps, that you’re making it, for love, restoration, that he’ll come through for you again, that everything will be alright, just because He’s God, that He’s with you, for angels unawares, for the cross, and for life.
So, no, the devil still continues to bring challenges and stuff for me to complain about (that’s his day job), but I am keeping my eyes on God and His goodness. I am beginning to see God’s grace, favour and love from a whole new perspective. And my testimonies will begin to roll in very soon. And yours will too. So keep me posted if your life has been changed by the 21 days of gratitude challenge.
