Although our attitude is invisible, it makes all the difference. There is a tremendous difference between feeling privileged to perform a task and feeling obligated to do it. Gratitude is the secret that flips the switch from “I have to” to “I get to.”
I Thessalonians 5:18 gives the perfect explanation: “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” As Christians, we are commanded to give thanks in every circumstance of life. We can do that because we know the promise of Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Gratitude transforms ministry. Larissa was a busy mother who volunteered to teach a Sunday school class for fourth-grade girls. When she considered all the work she had to do, including the many demands of tending to her own children, preparing another Sunday school lesson seemed overwhelming. But when she stopped to thank the Lord for the opportunity to share His Word with impressionable young girls, what had felt like one more obligation became an opportunity for ministry. A grateful spirit changed everything.
In our ministry of legal helps, the attorneys of the Christian Law Association often marvel at the faithfulness of God despite increasing and never-ending opposition. With His help, CLA has developed a record of victories for religious liberty that can only be attributed to the blessing of the Lord. When we consider His faithfulness through more than five decades of ministry, we cannot help but be filled with gratitude.
Every Christian goes through times of trial—seasons that are especially difficult. Yet every honest Christian can look back and see that God has remained faithful, even when our own faithfulness to Him has sometimes wavered. When we recognize His goodness in times of abundance as well as times of great difficulty, the only appropriate response is a grateful heart.
The gratitude of the Apostle Paul is seen in the opening verses of Philippians. Though writing from prison, he said, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you” (Philippians 1:3). Paul was not thankful because his circumstances were easy; he was thankful because he knew God was with him in the difficult circumstances.
Jonah also prayed with thanksgiving from a place we can hardly imagine—the belly of the great fish. He prayed, “But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the lord” (Jonah 2:9).
When we consider Paul’s gratitude from prison and Jonah’s thanksgiving from the fish’s belly, we are reminded that gratitude is not dependent upon perfect circumstances. We, too, can be known as thankful people when we yield our spirit to the Lord and trust Him to lead us moment by moment.
Happy Thanksgiving!