Thankful Reminders

Reminders...I like them.  The ones that come by way of sticky notes are my favorites.  Most people use their phones these days, but a good a pen and piece of paper are my ultimate choice. 

One of these "reminders" beckons me spiritually higher each morning as I enter my bathroom.  Written on a tiny strip of blue paper months ago, the color directs my eyes upward toward the top of the mirror and the Scripture, my heart upwards towards the Lord: "Give thanks in all things for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" - I Thessalonians 5:18. 

Sometimes, I'd like to NOT see it.  Know what I mean?  Sometimes, I'd rather NOT see the Words of the Lord that convict me of thanklessness and take away my justification for my sinful actions.   

Let's face it.  Sometimes it's just hard.  It's hard to give thanks when I am grumpy and angry at family members.  It's hard to give thanks, when I feel like the weight of the world is on my shoulders.  It's hard to give thanks, when I have so much to do in a day that I'm afraid it won't all get done. 

Sometimes it's hard...but not impossible. 

You see, when God chose to draw us to Himself through Jesus Christ, He gave us more than just the gift of exchanging our sinfulness for His righteousness.  Scripture says that "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness, (II Peter 1:3). 

In other words, we have the power to be thankful, even when we don't FEEL thankful.  For instance, when I am angry at someone, I can be thankful that God has put that person in my life to teach me.  I can be thankful that God has given me the grace to handle the situation and possibly draw the offending person and myself closer to Himself.  I can be thankful that God doesn't treat me the way I would like to treat that person, in that moment!  

See what I mean?  God, through His Spirit, supplies us with the ability to be thankful, even in seemingly thankless situations. 

So with that in mind, what is that hard circumstance that you need to be thankful for today?  God may have already brought it to mind - to mine and to yours.  So, choose thankfulness.  Figure out how to be thankful in it...and then thank Him for IT or for the outcome of IT.

God, You have told me to be thankful in all things.  Sometimes, Lord, I really don't want to.  Yet, you have said that it is Your will for me in Christ.  Therefore, I will choose thankfulness...even in this.  I praise You, Lord.