Ever find yourself focusing on the negative and complaining when you should be thanking? Ever slip into a the doldrums of despair over what's NOT going well instead of seeing all the good things that ARE happening right before your eyes? It's easy to get distracted by what's out of balance and what might not be working out so well in your life, and as a result, overlook the small miracles that are occurring all around you; we've all made that mistake at least once before. Probably lots of times if we're honest. But we've got to remember to stop and thank God for the areas of abundance, favor, and productivity in our lives, even though there may be other areas of famine, struggle, and difficulty.
You see, our attitude of praise and thanksgiving can't be reserved exclusively for days when everything is going our way. Oh no. We've got to be like David and say, "I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth" (Psalm 34:1 KJV). Not only when things are going great... but at ALL TIMES.
I'll bless Him when I'm hurting.
I'll bless Him when I'm disappointed
I'll bless Him when I'm being mistreated...
No matter what the situation might look like, you've go to make up in your mind that you're going to give the Lord thanks anyhow. I know things might not be coming together according to YOUR plans, but God is still in control, and He's yet worthy to be praised.
The next time you feel like complaining, take a moment to think back on where He brought you from. Consider where you COULD HAVE BEEN had it not been for the Lord on your side. Take a stroll down memory lane and call to mind those times when God delivered you in the midst of impossible circumstances. Then remind yourself that, "You may not know how, you may not know when, but He'll do it again!"
When you stop complaining and start thanking, your perspective changes...and once your perspective changes, then and only then, can your situation change.
So today I want to admonish you to thank God through the good and the bad, knowing that everything will be all right!
As always, thanks for reading, and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper!
Dianna Hobbs
Amen, Dianna! "You may not know how, you may not know when, but he'll do it again!" YES HE WILL! I felt a praise on that one!!! You know, it's very easy to become so caught up in the things we don't have or the things that aren't working out, that we miss what we do have and the things that God has already and/or is working out. We become so fixated on everything that's going wrong in a particular area of our life but God is saying "Hey, look at how I'm blessing you over here!" But because we are so shackled by the problem in one area, we can't or won't see the freedom in other areas. I know, because I have been there. But one thing I have found to be true is that when I praise him and thank him for what he has done, and for what I know he's going to do, even though I may not see it, He always, always comes through and gives me the strength I need to hold on in the meantime. As you mentioned, David said "I will bless the Lord at ALL times..." Not when all my bills are paid, my gas tank is full, my husband and children are acting great, etc...but when all my bills are due, everything is threatened to be repo'd and disconnected, my car is empty, I'm sick in my body, my husband is acting crazy, my children are acting out, there's no food in the house...it means exactly what it says, AT ALL TIMES. Yes, its hard to thank God when you're hurting, lacking, disappointed, but I've learned that it just makes God bless you even the more when he sees that no matter what, good and bad, you still thanked him, you still praised him, you still exalted him. God brings the possible out of the impossible. He has taught me that once I bring my mind off of the problem and begin to expect my solution, my situation will change and until it does, I can find serenity in his arms and in the fact that he will do it again! Wonderful word!
Posted by: Keisha | July 19, 2008 at 11:42 PM
Thanks, Dianna, I needed this because I had begun to complain in my spirit and from my mouth because of family obligations. Thank God I have a loving and supportive family. Thank God I have a roof over my head, a nice comfortable bed and and so much food, I need to take drop 15 pounds to feel comfortable in all of the clothes hanging in my closet. Thank God that my 86-year old mother is still with me, anchored in Christ, in her right mind with a reasonable portion of health and strength. Thank God that my adult children are not in jail, not on drugs, gainfully employed and that I have a healthy and beautiful granddaughter whom I adore and she loves me unconditionally. Thank God for all of my friends who continue to love me and reach out to me even when I can't return their calls and emails right away. Thank God for the people He's sent into my life just when I or someone in my family has needed their assistance.
I encourage everyone to make their own list of what to thank God for - things we take for granted that people in other countries, and many in this country, dream about.
Thanks for reminding me Dianna.
Posted by: Carmin Wharton | July 21, 2008 at 11:50 PM