A Grateful Heart: Cultivate A Heart Of Thankfulness

God is desirous of His children to maintain an attitude of gratitude for all His Hand has bestowed – which is everything we have btw, even the air that we breathe. We take so much for granted, do we not? Until it is taken away and then we find ourselves whining and complaining like two year old’s, Amen? “You never miss the water ‘til the well runs dry” a dear friend used to quip. We are to practice gratefulness all the time rather than entitlement which we so often resort to. Unexpressed gratitude comes across as ingratitude – taking things for granted instead of being truly grateful. We must not be content with merely feeling grateful, rather we must learn to express it as it demonstrates our appreciation. Even in human relationships when one is not appreciated verbally for what they do they can feel used and taken advantage of even if they delight in their work. This is true of God as well. After Jesus healed the ten lepers only one returned to give him thanks, and he a Samaritan. “Where are the other nine?” our Lord asks. Certainly an indicator that gratitude is a reasonable response for the receiver of God’s great grace.

Yet, what about when we receive what we don’t want or want what we don’t receive?  Paul tells us we are still to give thanks – not for the “thing” per se – but for how God will use that “thing” or lack of that “thing” in our lives. Some of His most precious gifts are delivered in packages not of our choosing (perhaps most). We are to praise Him anyway. That is the “sacrifice of praise” because our praise costs dearly.  Just as it cost God dearly for His Son to die for our sins bringing many to glory. God is using these “gifts” to conform believers into the image of His Son and therefore we can be confident they are a blessing to us. A blessing which we will perceive either now or later – but certainly fully in heaven. He will never waste our pain nor will be ever outgive Him. Remember, Christ in us, the hope of glory. One fine day it will all be so pristinely clear, Amen?