BE THANKFUL IN EVERYTHING

"Be thankful!" It's something we hear all the time, but how often do we actually put thankfulness into action? Sure, I write down five things I'm grateful for every morning, but when it comes to being thankful during a discouraging day, well, that's not always so easy. Being thankful in these moments is something that we have to do intentionally. Have you ever thought about how thankfulness goes hand-in-hand with contentment? Contentment is rooted in a thankful heart, and a thankful heart is developed by being content with what God has blessed you with. In Philippians 4, Paul tells us that he has learned the secret to being content with much and little. It's Christ! Almost everyone is familiar with Philippians 4:13, but let's dive a bit deeper into this verse. "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." We often miss the focus of this verse. It's not "I can do all things," it's "through Christ." Paul is not saying he's a superhero, and Jesus is his "good-luck charm." No, it's far greater than that. Paul is saying that he can be content and endure all things because it is CHRIST who strengthens him. Ultimately, it's Christ who enables us to be content and thankful in tough circumstances. Christ is the one who sustains us and keeps us going. We need to stop trying to be the god of the universe and depend on Christ. We don't have to be the one in control because Jesus already is! It's the hard circumstances in life that draw us to Christ and teach us to be content and thankful. No matter what is happening at the present moment, we can always be thankful because of Christ and what He has accomplished for us at the cross. 2 Cor 12:9 says," "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." His grace is sufficient! Those who are in Christ don't need anything else. Jesus is more than enough. He satisfies the deepest longings of our soul. Isn't that something to thankful for?! When discontentment and grumbling start creeping into our thoughts, we need to start thinking about Jesus. Like joy, thankfulness is not just a feeling; it's a mindset and an attitude of the heart. And in order to develop this mindset, we must think about Christ and count our blessings. Like any habit, thankfulness takes time and practice. A great way you can start is by writing a list of everything you are thankful for. Counting your blessings is the perfect way to counter-act discontentment. When you are feeling discouraged, remember we always have a reason to be thankful. Psalm 107:1 says, "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!"