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Gratitude

This month we are looking at having a spirit of gratitude, not just during this month when we celebrate Thanksgiving, but every day of our lives.  Psalm 105:1 says, “Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; proclaim his deeds among the peoples.” (CSB) When we read the verses following, they tell us how to give praise and gratitude to the Lord.  We are to sing praise to Him, tell what He has done for us, seek Him and rejoice, seek His strength, and always seek Him in all things.

The Enduring Word Website has a quote by G. Campbell Morgan on Psalm 105 that states, “This and the following psalm are companions. They reveal the two sides of the relation between God and His people during a long period. This one sings the song of His faithfulness and power; while the next tells the sad story of repeated failure and rebellion on the part of His people.” God loves us no matter what we are going through even if we act out of rebellion, He still loves us and is waiting for us to turn back to Him. For me, that is one reason to give Him praise. Just to know that when I mess up, He doesn’t turn His back on me, but lovingly calls me back to the path I’m supposed to be walking. It shows me just how much He loves me and wants a relationship with me.

We can have an “Attitude of Gratitude” no matter what we are dealing with or what we are going through. It must be intentional!  We must make up our minds that we will give thanks in all things. 1 Thessalonians says, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV)  My husband has this kind of attitude. He always says, “Praise you Lord”, even when something doesn’t go the way he wants. My husband lifts a prayer of thanks to God even when everything seems to be falling apart. He exemplifies the “Attitude of Gratitude!” I must confess it can be very difficult for me to say, “Thank you!” when my whole world seems to be crashing down around me. But that is exactly what God is looking for in our lives.

One way we show our gratitude is through praise!  Singing songs of praise and adoration to God shows Him our heart attitude, our love for Him, and thankfulness for all He has done for us. It also shows our gratitude for Who He is! We should look to Him for everything. We show our gratitude when we come to a time in our lives when we need to make a very difficult decision and seek His guidance. We show our gratitude when we tell of how God brought us through a trial. When we feel weak in the face of trials, we must seek His strength. Only through His strength are we able to come through the trial and in the process gain strength for the next trial. Not only do we gain from the strength He gave us, but those who hear our story also gain strength and faith to step out onto the path that God is leading them onto. 

The more we share what He has done, the more we show our thankfulness for His guidance, love, and grace; the more we grow in Him and become stronger in our walk.  Our gratitude for Jesus and what He has done for us shines through, and we are like a lighthouse guiding others toward the Savior.  I remember when I was going through a very difficult time in my life, I had no other option but to just put everything in God’s hands, by just putting one foot in front of the other.  I overheard someone say to a friend of mine that they were amazed by how strong I was. That, my friend wasn’t me being strong, that was God in me! He was my strength, and every day, I leaned on Him, to the point where He carried me through it all, for which I have given Him praise since then.  Because I have seen what I could do without relying on anyone but God.  It was His strength, not mine.  Praise You, Father!

As we reflect on what we are thankful for, let us remember to shower God with praises, showing our gratitude for Who He is, what He has done for us, and where He is leading us.

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Donna Knuth Rice

I am trying a blog for the first time in my life, and frankly, I feel like I don't have a clue as to what I'm doing! But, here goes. I work at a Christian Television network in the Correspondence Department, where I write letters and emails to our viewers, pray with them for their needs, and send materials they request. I am a Christian. I was saved at the age of 11 during a youth meeting at my church. My pastor led me to the Lord, and to say the least, my life has been an adventure. I am a widow. My late husband, Allen, passed away after 34 1/2 years of marriage. He had been sick the last seven years of his life, and it was a struggle, for him and for me. We met as part of a singing group that was affiliated with a Christian Radio station, and we sang together all through our lives together. We both worked in television and radio all through our married life, mostly for Christian stations. Besides singing I also play flute. I had the luxury of having parents who started out as music teachers...so music was in our house constantly. Some people describe me as being a loud-mouthed lime type...can't disagree with that. I have a tendency to put my foot in my mouth more times than I can count! I also have a tendency to say exactly what's on my mind...which is why I get myself in so much trouble! LOL! Trust me, that's something me and God have been working on for a very long time. I have no children here on earth, although I have a baby in heaven. My baby here is my dog Jack. He's a black lab/ chow mix. He's a big boy....thinks he's a lap dog! Can't think of much else to say. The reason I started this blog is because a few months ago in church, a guest pastor came and delivered a message, and when he asked for those of us who wanted prayer to come forward, I did. When he came to me he asked me if I did any journaling. I told him no 'cause I wasn't very good at it. He told me to start, and prophesied over me that my journal thoughts would impact other people. I wasn't sure just how I was to go about doing this. In fact, I was a little hesitant at first. I started journaling at home, and our assistant pastor's wife asked me to submit something for our Senior newsletter. I didn't the first edition, but something I had heard on Christian radio a long time ago and has stuck with me all these years, came to mind so I submitted an article. That article will be my first post. I don't claim to have all the answers, and my thoughts may seem a little "out there", but I feel God has been prodding me to do this, and so here I am. I hope what I post will bring encouragement, and "Something to Think About".

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