Thankful.

Above all things, I want to be thankful. In every phase of life, in the midst of every circumstance, no matter what my eyes may see or how my heart and flesh may feel, I want thankfulness, or gratitude, to be the high bar that I set for my life.

Even if my life is falling apart at the seams, I want to be able to look around and say, “what can I be thankful for in this situation?” I want to be adept at finding the tiniest specs of gold and diamonds, even in the deepest and darkest caves of life.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Thankfulness changes the atmosphere. Even in the most difficult times, thankfulness is like lighting a candle in a darkened room. When life brings oppression, depression, anxiety, worry, and fear… thankfulness opens the door to hope.

Thankfulness is a weapon. Life can throw us some very serious curve balls, and in every single circumstance, whether it is “light and momentary” or “dire and devastating,” our spiritual enemy has one goal… To bring our hearts and minds so low to the ground with negativity that we lose hope and give up.

That’s what he wants. He wants you to give up so you will not accomplish all the Lord has planned for you. He wants you ineffective so you will not touch and encourage the lives of the people around you.

Thankfulness stands in direct opposition to the enemy’s plan for your life. What can he do to you if every time he comes to attack, you worship God in humble thankfulness? Thankfulness is a form of resisting the enemy, and when you resist him, he will flee from you.

“So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you.”

James 4:7

Your life makes waves… it has ripple effects both for the good and for the bad. If you give up, or even if you just sink into negativity, how will that affect your life? How will that affect the lives of your children and future generations? How about your co-workers, friends, neighbors, and the stranger you have the opportunity to warmly greet at the grocery store? Will these go away from you better or worse than they were before?

So if we struggle in this area, are we just counted out? No way! Today, we will pick up thankfulness and begin to speak out all the Lord has done, and is now doing, for us! Right now, in our own private spaces, we can declare over ourselves, “I will NOT focus on the negative! I WILL be thankful, in Jesus’ name!”

Gas prices up? Thank you, God, that I have a car to drive and even a little money to fill up my tank!

Too hot outside? Thank you, God, for every bit of air conditioning that I have access to, whether it is in my car, at work or home, or in public places!

Even in the most dire circumstances, we can cry out to the Lord with thankfulness!

Teenager in crisis? Thank you, God, that You hold my child in the palm of Your hand, and You are able to speak to him directly into the center of his heart! I thank You, God, that You love my child completely, and that You care about his future even more than I do! Thank You, Father, that You care for the needs of my child, even when I am not there, every single day!

Marriage on the brink? Thank you, Father, for my spouse! Thank You for giving them to me to love and to cherish! Forgive me for all the times that I did not love, did not have the actions of love, did not use the words of love, or when my love was small and selfish. Help me, Lord, to love them like You would love them. I thank You for every little positive thing I can think of… and I list them by name! He is kind, he is brave, he is strong… he holds down a job, he is funny, he is caring… he is faithful, he is a loving father, he is giving… … … Help me to win at showing the actions of love, using the words of love, and in bringing grace, kindness, and peacefulness into our home… in Jesus’ name.

“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”

Colossians 2:6-7

Thankfulness is connecting with God when you’re lost in a forest of trees, and allowing Him to show you the way home. Whatever our circumstances, thankfulness to God has the power to bring unexpected joy, and peace that makes no sense.

A hopeful mind trained by thankfulness simply shrugs away negativity and continues a constant search for the [sometimes deeply] buried treasure of “whatever is good.”

“Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].

Philippians 4:8 AMP

Discarding the human side of things and leaning into the work of seeking out “anything worthy of praise,” we are able to treasure, at least in part, even the worst of circumstances.

A truth to remember: Do not dwell on the negative, and negativity will not dwell in you.