Devotion:
Read Psalm 9:1.
Being thankful is a function of our attitude. It’s a choice about how we see life, either through a lens of gratitude or a lens of ingratitude. As we face the circumstances that each day brings, we choose which lens to put on. Wearing Gratitude Glasses makes a big difference in everything we experience.
There will be times when it’s easy to be thankful and pick up those Gratitude Glasses. When our health is good, our relationships are thriving, our finances are strong, and life is good, it’s easy to be thankful. In this Psalm David is in a good season of life and wants to praise God for his wonderful deeds that proclaims in the rest of the chapter.
I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. Psalm 9:1
It’s good to thank God when we are enjoying our good seasons of life, but are we quick to thank God when we face discouragement and disappointment? Being thankful provides strength to make it through the difficult seasons of life. There are times when our hopes are dashed, people disappoint us, a bad health report arrives, or our body betrays us. There are times when a loved one becomes ill or dies, we are overwhelmed with financial obligations, or we feel we’ve lost our purpose in life. How can we be thankful in the hard times of life?
First, we can thank God for his promise never to leave or forsake us, even in the hard times. Next we can recall the times in the past when God saw us through. Then we can do as the old hymn says, “Count your blessings, name them one by one…. count your many blessings see what God has done.” Counting blessings reminds us to focus on the good we have in our lives.
Being thankful is a discipline, not an emotion. Gratitude as a discipline involves a conscious choice. We choose to be grateful even when our emotions and feelings are filled with hurt, sadness, or frustration. The choice of gratitude takes real effort. Instead of focusing on heartache, we focus on blessings. Instead of focusing on illness, we focus on blessings. Instead of focusing on disappointment, we focus on blessings. We can get up each morning and grab our imaginary Gratitude Glasses before we even get out of bed. With each action we take throughout the day, we can find something to be grateful for: clean, safe water, clothes for the day, a roof over our heads, transportation, on and on we can go.
Like David in Psalm 9:1-2, we can give thanks to the Lord wholeheartedly and tell others of all God has done for us. We can be glad, delight in God, and sing the Lord’s praises. Christian writer William Arthur Ward said, “Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgiving, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” Being thankful is our choice.
Personal Worship Option:
Choose gratitude today by completing the following statement: Instead of focusing on ______________________, I will focus on these blessings: _____________________.
Dear God, thank you for not only your countless blessings, but also for the challenges that draw me near to you. I give my circumstances to you and trust you to see me through. Thank you for giving me strength to wait out the storms of life. I will choose to live a life of gratitude. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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