Last week, I was about 9 minutes into a teaching I was doing when we received a tornado warning. This pretty much meant that for one’s safety, they should seek shelter to be protected. I guess I could have just “ridden out the storm”, but I chose to seek shelter. Everything turned out ok and thank you all for your texts and messages with prayers of encouragement.
I wasn’t teaching about Jesus calming the storm 😊 but maybe that would have been a good topic, huh?
No, I was sharing about food and how we need it to be healthy and strong physically and that the same is true for our spiritual health. We don’t want to feed on a diet of Twinkies and Coke all day, every day, do we?
I thought it would be kind of a cool blessing to consider the menu we have to eat from. I like to change up my physical food selection and I attempt to do that with my spiritual food intake as well. There are so many different and unique choices.
What are you interested in? What do you like? Who do you think is an interesting person in the Bible? Is there someplace in the Middle East that you are unfamiliar with? A subject? A verse you are interested in?
In this article we are going to look at being continually thankful.
New King James Version
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Philippians 4:6
New King James Version
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
“Life is full of daily annoyances and frustrations. There are inconsiderate drivers, fast food clerks who never get your order right, an endless series of red lights when you are in a hurry, the clueless shopper who takes 45 things to the “10 items or less” checkout register, and on and on.
Maybe you face frustration on a higher level-like feeling as though you’re stuck in a dead-end job or trying to get through to a rebellious teen. Perhaps you’re frustrated with yourself because you just can’t seem to lose weight or stick with an exercise plan. Maybe you can’t find the opportunity to spend quality time with your spouse or kids or you feel you are not on the spiritual level you desire. Whatever the source, frustration can keep you agitated, upset, and just no fun to be around.
The Bible has an excellent weapon to keep frustrations from infiltrating your life. It is maintaining an attitude of gratitude and cultivating a lifestyle of thanksgiving. When you catch yourself starting to get frustrated, start saying out loud, “I refuse to get frustrated, I have a lot to be thankful for.” Then begin to say some of the things you are thankful for out loud. Your frustration will start to melt away like a snowball in the hot August sun. If it’s a problem that needs to be solved, then ask for God’s help. He said He would give wisdom to anyone who would ask (James 1:5)
Refuse to let petty frustrations affect you or steal your joy. Instead, enter into God’s presence by giving thanks and praising Him.”
“Keep Calm and Trust God” Jake and Keith Provance
One of the best things about thankfulness is that the more you choose it, the easier it gets. The more you profess gratitude, the more you notice things to be grateful for. The “thankfulness muscles” respond to exercise!
HOW TO WORK YOUR GRATITUDE MUSCLE
- Create a “Gratitude Jar.” Place it where you will always see it. Leave some sticky notes and a pen next to it. Every day before you go to bed, write down at least one thing that went well that day. At the end of the year, empty the notes out and be reminded of how blessed you have been that year.
- Write a letter to someone who has been a blessing in your life. It will make both them and you feel like a million bucks!
- Practice saying, “I get to” instead of “I have to.” It makes life so much more fun!
- Dr. Robert Emmons, a gratitude expert, recommends using visual reminders. Post some of your favorite Bible verses about gratitude on your walls or mirrors to remind you to give thanks in all circumstances.
- Include a time of thanks each time you pray. God has been so good to us! You can thank Him for all of the blessings He has given you, both big and small!
Best-selling author Melody Beattie once said, “Gratitude can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” Let’s strive to become the most grateful people on the planet. The more grateful we become, the more we will find ourselves living life to the absolute fullest in the Lord. Let us thank God every day for all of the blessings He has given us. By making gratitude a habit, our lives will be changed!
Colossians 3:17
17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Chosen Gems 