I've been considering thankfulness lately. And some new ideas on it have come up. Thanks to input from a few others (mostly one other), I'm starting to develop a more complete view of thankfulness, and a more joyful approach to being thankful. Which is confusing because being thankful can't be totally contrived or controlled, especially when it's overwhelming and powerful. But what we are thankful for, and the source to which we are thankful for it can be perceived differently.
Thankfulness should be dependant primarily on what we are thankful for, not what we are lacking. We should thank God for what He has given us not because of what He didn't hold back, but for what He gave. Be thankful for salvation not because He held back wrath, but because He poured out love. Be thankful for blessing not because He kept us from poverty, but because He has shown generosity. Be thankful for life not because He has kept us from death, but because He has given us life. Be thankful for the good not because it isn't bad, but because it is good!
It is so great to rejoice in the Lord. To rejoice in His love and power and goodness and splendor and light! Not because He isn't hateful or weak or bad or dull or dark. Just because of what He is. Regardless of the bad, God is good. And in the fullest measure! So instead of looking at the negative side and feeling relieved you aren't there, look on the bright side and rejoice that He is there!
Chotki’s daylight
2 years ago
Yes, to not be thankful for what we have in comparison to what others don't have, but just be thankful. A one-step thankfulness. I like what you said .. regardless of the bad, God is good. I miss that sometimes, thinking I need to see the bad to really understand how Good He is, but He's so infinitely and overhwhelmingly Good, you don't need a contrast to see it. This post is a channel of Light.
ReplyDeleteThis is so very true. I loved it. It is so very hard to be thankful sometimes, especially because we are so blessed. We live such great lives, here in Ohio. We have family and friends, a church, a home and a bed, and its so easy to over look those things and not be thankful for them just because they are so routine, and we have always had them. We get to see different seasons, and watch the way we are all growing. We have more in our reach than we deserve, and being thankful is all we ever should be, yet it i harder than it sounds...
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