“I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Corinthians 1:4 (NIV)
Understanding the right ingredients is all important! Heloise wrote in her “hints” column that that best way to cook a moist turkey was to, “Put a cup of water in the cavity of the turkey, cover with tin foil and bake.” A reader wrote back to complain. “The turkey came out fine, but the plastic cup in the turkey melted!” Imagining that person trying to squeeze that cup into that turkey reminds us that directions must be specific! What are God’s specific directions for developing a thankful heart? What are the ingredients that result in thanksgiving? Here’s your “Thanksgiving recipe.”
Recognize God’s grace! When was the last time you sent your boss a thank you note for that month’s check? Of course you don’t... you don’t thank someone for what you earned. That’s why recognition of God’s grace is such an important ingredient of thankfulness. When we recognize that all we have is a gift from Him it makes us into thankful people.
Understand God’s righteousness! “Righteousness” means that God ALWAYS does what is right. Are you beginning to understanding of how righteousness ties in with thanksgiving? Sometimes life doesn’t feel like a gift. Sometime life doesn’t look like a gift. Thankfulness, results from the knowledge that God is righteous. When life seems to have been unfair, when it seems to have cheated you, remember that God is righteous. His purpose will reign in the end.
Thank God with other people! Of course you can and should give thanks all alone. But the truth is: if you don’t have a place to give thanks with others you’ll soon stop giving thanks at all. You need to hear others give thanks. You need to share what God’s doing in your life with others. Thankfulness is grows best in bunches.
Understanding the right ingredients is all important! Heloise wrote in her “hints” column that that best way to cook a moist turkey was to, “Put a cup of water in the cavity of the turkey, cover with tin foil and bake.” A reader wrote back to complain. “The turkey came out fine, but the plastic cup in the turkey melted!” Imagining that person trying to squeeze that cup into that turkey reminds us that directions must be specific! What are God’s specific directions for developing a thankful heart? What are the ingredients that result in thanksgiving? Here’s your “Thanksgiving recipe.”
Recognize God’s grace! When was the last time you sent your boss a thank you note for that month’s check? Of course you don’t... you don’t thank someone for what you earned. That’s why recognition of God’s grace is such an important ingredient of thankfulness. When we recognize that all we have is a gift from Him it makes us into thankful people.
Understand God’s righteousness! “Righteousness” means that God ALWAYS does what is right. Are you beginning to understanding of how righteousness ties in with thanksgiving? Sometimes life doesn’t feel like a gift. Sometime life doesn’t look like a gift. Thankfulness, results from the knowledge that God is righteous. When life seems to have been unfair, when it seems to have cheated you, remember that God is righteous. His purpose will reign in the end.
Thank God with other people! Of course you can and should give thanks all alone. But the truth is: if you don’t have a place to give thanks with others you’ll soon stop giving thanks at all. You need to hear others give thanks. You need to share what God’s doing in your life with others. Thankfulness is grows best in bunches.
1 comment:
I am thankful for your blog.
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