September 22 was World Gratitude Day.   I will admit that I did not know there is a World Gratitude Day and I suspect, if many of you are like me, you did not know either.  We are entering the Thanksgiving season in America and it is an excellent time to remember why we should be grateful and why we celebrate Thanksgiving.

 

 

We are not instructed to be thankful FOR the circumstance but rather be thankful IN SPITE OF the circumstance.  There is a big difference in these two conditions.  If we believe we must be thankful for the circumstance, we will view hard and unpleasant situation as being from God when it is not.  Every good and perfect gift is from God.  (James 1:17)  If we are thankful while in the midst of the circumstance, we are keeping the focus on God’s goodness and not on the problem.  Our attitude will determine our victory or our defeat where the circumstance is concerned.

 

 

There is a statement of fact, a statement of truth and a command in these two sentences.  The statement of fact is today IS the day (24 hours) the Lord has made.  He is the maker of each day we live.  The statement of truth is that this is the day (day 6 of God’s eternal plan) the Lord has made.  He is the one who has determined what is to happen on day 6 of His plan for man’s redemption.  And His plan will be accomplished according to His will.  The command for today is to REJOICE and be GLAD in it.  What is “it”?  Well, “IT” is the day we have the privilege to live in and experience right now.

 

 

Everything we say or do is to represent Jesus Christ.  You and I may be the only picture of Jesus that some people will ever see.  What are we showing them?  And is the picture we unveil an accurate representation of Jesus?  And we are to also give thanks to our Father through Jesus.  Why?  Because our acceptance into the Beloved is a direct result of the Father’s plan to bring us to Himself.  Even if we think we don’t have any other reason to be thankful, this would be reason enough for a life of gratitude.

 

 

This verse is so self-explanatory that it really does not need an explanation.  We simply need to remember that the Lord is GOOD and His love toward us endures FOREVER.  This, again, is the only reason we need to express gratitude.

 

 

All of us have many things, large and small, in our lives for which to be grateful.  Even the poorest of us in America are more prosperous than whole populations of other countries.   I challenge you to look around and take stock of your life today.  Find those things for which you are grateful.  Look in all the corners of your life, in the most unlikely places.  Look for the smallest reasons to give thanks.  Then express that gratitude verbally.  Remember, when we open our mouths and express our gratitude, it will become a reality in our lives.  And it will open the door for more abundant blessings.

 

Live a life of gratitudeand thanksgiving.  Gratitude WILL change your attitude!!