I Thank You, Lord

Today I got a really encouraging message from my friend, Ange, that helped remind me to stop looking at what we DON’T have, and thank God for what we DO have. She’s definitely a smart gal! :)

This got me thinking about what a grateful heart looks like. After doing a bit of research and praying, this is what I came up with:

God is a good and faithful to meet every one of our needs. To cultivate a heart of gratitude toward Him and the work He has done in our lives (and will continue to do), we must focus on appreciating what we have. I read this quote in an online devotional:

“As we focus upon that which is good, joy rises within our hearts. God does not need our thanksgiving; but we are in need of being thankful to Him.” How true this is! Have you noticed that people like being around people that are happy and positive? This is because it brings out the joy in their lives as well! :) To go along with this, God does not need anything from us. He is satisfied on His own. However, when we practice gratitude toward Him, our faith not only increases, but our joy does as well.

Luke 17:14-16 (New International Version)
14When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.
15One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

In this Bible passage, Jesus showed mercy to ten lepers by healing them of leprosy. Only one of these men returned to Jesus to give Him thanks. This man stuck out to Jesus because He displayed the proper response of gratitude so Jesus rewarded Him by being made completely whole, free from any scars or any trace of the limb-deforming disease called leprosy.

Let us be like this man and practice being thankful for what we have, while not forget all that Christ has done for us!

God bless!
<3 Shannon

“Life song” – Casting Crowns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKaHYuuMJIw