MONDAY MOTIVATION: AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

Happy Thanksgiving everybody! 

I want to encourage you to have an Attitude of Gratitude. Being grateful is an attitude. Life can be challenging and it takes the right attitude to live the life that God has for you and to live life to the fullest!

What do you do when you are in the midst of a challenge?

What do you do when you aren’t where you used to be but you aren’t where you want to be?

What do you do when you are IN a crisis?

Have you noticed that most of life is lived in between?

We actually never get to a place of complete perfection with perfect conditions and circumstances. Most of life is lived in the dash. We live in the middle of something.

For example, on our tombstone there will be a birth date and a death date and in between there is a dash. That dash represents our life. How we live it. What we make of our life.

God never promised us a perfect life with no problems. But He did give us a promise when we encounter problems.

John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

IN this world you will have trouble. But TAKE HEART Jesus says. Why? Because He has overcome the world.

Jesus is an overcomer and with his strength we can live as over-comers!

It’s culturally acceptable to be a victim in our culture - to blame everyone else for our problems and stay in the middle of our situation.

Adam and Eve had it made in the garden.  They had no problems.

They had no bills.

They had no mortgage.

They had no in-laws.

And they had no clothes!

But then they sinned when they ate from the one forbidden tree. Adam blamed Eve. Eve blamed the devil and we’ve been playing the blame game ever since!

BUT rather than playing the blame game…

When you have an ATTITUDE of GRATITUDE and are filled with the hope and love of Jesus you don’t have to be a victim anymore you can be an OVERCOMER!

Here’s the Key:

GIVING GOD THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES

I Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1. Be Joyful Always… Joy is something God gives.

Stay connected to God and you will be filled with JOY.

2. Pray Continually… Prayer is something We do.

Our eyes and ears are always open to what God is doing around us.

Bible says, Pray without ceasing.

3. Give Thanks IN ALL circumstances.

Giving thanks is our attitude. It’s an attitude of gratitude. Give thanks “IN” all circumstances.  God doesn’t say give thanks for all circumstances, but give thanks “in” all circumstances.  

God doesn’t expect you to be thankful for the evil in the world, We don’t thank God for the pain, abuse or hurt that has been done to us… BUT but we thank Him “in” those circumstances.  Don’t grumble or complain. But have an Attitude of Gratitude.

Philippians 2:14, “Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you.”

Just like how in A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, Snoopy is stuck on the top of his dog house on Thanksgiving and all he has is a bowl of dog food. Everyone else is eating a delicious Thanksgiving dinner with turkey and dressing.  He’s feeling sorry for himself. Then he says to himself,

“But it could be worse.  I could have been born a turkey.”

Whenever you find yourself tempted to complain about your circumstances say these 4 words…

“IT COULD BE WORSE."

So this week when you are tempted to complain about spending Thanksgiving day with your dysfunctional family….

It Could Be Worse.

When you are eating your Thanksgiving Dinner and you try the new casserole that your Aunt made and you want to spit it out…

It Could Be Worse.

When you are stuck in a traffic jam trying to get to the mall for black Friday…

It Could Be Worse.

When you’ve been standing in line at Walmart for 30 minutes and and jumps in front of you…

It Could Be Worse.

AND when you wake up in the morning and you roll over and look at your spouse and you say to yourself…  

It Could Be…. NO DON'T SAY IT!

FOCUS ON GOD'S PROMISES NOT YOUR PROBLEMS

Here’s God’s PROMISE…

Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”(NIV)

God doesn’t all things ARE good but He says He works all things together FOR the Good!

I couldn’t help but think here’s an example of someone that has faced something that isn’t good but God is working it out for His good!

Remember God is still on the throne! He hasn’t forgotten about you! And He’s at work behind in the scenes in ways that you can’t see!

PRAISE GOD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PROBLEM!

I’ve learned that when I Praise Him and Thank Him amidst the pain, amidst the difficulty and He will lift me up!  

Psalm 40:1-3, “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord
and put their trust in him.”(NIV)

Let’s Praise Him Together! He is our ROCK! He is a Faithful and Loving God!