Living in an Attitude of Thanksgiving to the Lord

I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.  -Psalm 69:30 (KJV)

Being thankful to God is an ongoing attitude of thanksgiving and praise that positively affects every aspect of our lives.  When we walk forward with Christ in the power of a thankful heart, we are living in spiritual victory over the problems and trials which would otherwise have brought us down.  A thankful heart is the heart of an over-comer, for we know that in Christ we will have the victory over sin, temptation, and our daily struggles.  A thankful heart empowers us to praise the Lord, look to Him in faith, and rejoice even in the midst of trouble.  Consider these principles for living daily with a glad and thankful heart:

Being thankful brings the peace of Christ more closely to our hearts.  When we are thankful the result is blessed peace.  And it’s a peace to which nothing in the world can compare.  No thrill, no experience, no situation, and no amount of money can compare with the experience of having the peace of Christ in our hearts.  Romans 5:1 says "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord."  That peace can be with us every day as we serve the Lord and walk with Him.

Being thankful helps us to take on a positive attitude even in difficult circumstances.  I heard a story about two men who were walking through a field one day when they spotted an enraged bull. Instantly they darted toward the nearest fence.  The storming bull followed in hot pursuit, and it was soon apparent they wouldn't make it. Terrified, the one shouted to the other, "Put up a prayer, John. We're in for it!" John answered, "I can't. I've never made a public prayer in my life." "But you must!" implored his companion. "The bull is catching up to us." "All right," panted John, "I'll say the only prayer I know, the one my father used to repeat at the table: 'O Lord, for what we are about to receive, make us truly thankful.'"  We all will go through hard times, but when are thankful to the Lord, we will make it through and we will do so in spiritual victory.  

No matter what we are facing we can praise the Lord and give thanks to Him.  Remember James 1:2: "Count it all joy when ye fall into diverse temptations."  When we face trials of all kinds, rejoice.  When we are up against some new problem, rejoice.  When we face some new struggle, rejoice.  For Jesus Christ has already overcome and He is greater than any problem we will ever face.  That is cause for thanksgiving.   

• Pray always (I Thessalonians 5:17).

• Give thanks always.

• Being thankful overcomes bitterness and ill feelings.

• Being thankful is a power source that leads to vibrant praise.

• Being thankful moves us forward when we are discouraged.

• Being thankful helps us smile when we face those daily frustrations and problems.  We can say "Thank you Jesus," and we can mean it with all our hearts.

Give thanks and be of good cheer, for Jesus Christ is Lord.  In Christ there is victory!