The Powerful Blessing of Thanksgiving
In these days there are many things to be frustrated, irritated, and agitated about. We can be frustrated about the rising cost of everything. It seems like every time we go to the store, the typical items we shop for have gone up in price again. We can be irritated at the fluctuating price of gasoline. Many people who would like to purchase a new car are agitated over the fact that the dealership is not able to acquire the vehicle they would like to purchase.
When we are frustrated, irritated, and agitated, that can put us in a negative dive and tailspin that is not healthy. There is a Scripture verse that speaks to this. In Hebrews 12:15 we are called to be careful “lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.” Notice, it is possible we can defile and negatively impact a great many people by our bitterness and lack of gratitude.
There is also the passage that warns us about being caught in the gall of bitterness (Acts 8:23). In that passage, bitterness is to our spirit what poison is to our body. It can be life threatening. When we find ourselves in this condition, we are ready to experience the powerful blessing of thanksgiving.
Many years ago there was a popular hymn we used to sing – Count Your Blessings. The first line goes like this: When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed, when you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.” There are powerful benefits of counting, remembering, our blessings. The reminder is so important because we tend to think blessings from God are normal and natural. When we go there, we take them for granted and feel entitled to them.
To counteract that thinking, we need to count them – write them down. In these days of thanksgiving, grab a little notebook you can carry around in your pocket or purse. When our Lord reminds you of a blessing, write it down.
We can be thankful for the air we breathe, precious family members, and friends. We can be thankful for those loved ones we have in heaven that we will see again when we go there. We can be thankful for pets, sunshine, and beautiful flowers in the spring. We can appreciate a beautiful snowfall, even if we enjoy it from the comforts of a warm house.
Our blessings are many, but sometimes our moments of thanksgiving are few. Take some time in these days to count your many blessings and be prepared to be surprised about how many great things our Lord has done for you. Happy Thanksgiving!
