Thanksgiving in March

We all know we should be more thankful than we are. We can easily focus on the negative and forget that we have much to be grateful for in our lives. A few weeks ago, I walked into a meeting and asked one of my teammates how he was doing. The reply stopped me in my tracks as he said, “All of the important things are wonderful.” I must say, it was an A+ answer in my book and made me realize I didn’t have the same perspective.I’m familiar with gratitude lists and think they’re an awesome idea, but it’s been a long time since I actually made one. Then today, I realized that skimping on gratitude is much worse than just being an ungrateful Christian. It actually puts me in a position for the enemy to be more effective in accomplishing his destructive purposes in my life.[bctt tweet="Skimping on gratitude is much worse than just being an ungrateful Christian."]Think of it this way: If you’re looking at everything half empty, you’re more likely to believe the lies that there’s something out there you’re missing. If you’re focused on the one circumstance in life that’s wreaking havoc, but you’re forgetting all the ways you’re protected and blessed, you’re much more likely to believe the lie that God isn’t good. If you’re focusing on the one unanswered prayer and aren’t grateful for the many answered prayers, you’ll be more vulnerable to agree with the enemy that you should take matters into your own hands. Do you see where this is going?What if, instead of being thankless, I was consistently thanking the Lord for the numerous ways over the many years where I can see His faithfulness? If I stayed in a place of awareness of all that’s good, I’m less tempted to believe the lie that I know what’s best. Being thankful is much more foundational to our walk than most of us realize. Our willingness to actually articulate our thankfulness can actually provide a layer of protection that every believer can use.Don’t just take my word for it. Check out a sampling of how God calls us to practice thanksgiving:

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

… give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.1 Thessalonians 5:18

... do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.Philippians 4:6

Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!Psalm 105:1

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.Psalm 136:1

So what are you waiting for? Take 5 minutes and start your list now.What are you thankful for?[bctt tweet="Being thankful is much more foundational to our walk than most of us realize."]