FIND A
REASON TO GIVE GOD THANKS (LUKE 17 : 11-19).
It is good to give thanks to the LORD and to sing praises to
your name, O Most High; to declare your loving kindness in the morning, and
your faithfulness by night. PSALM 92:1
NASB
HAVE
YOU EVER considered that perhaps you are not getting your prayers answered
because you are no grateful for what God has already done for you? Think of it
as a parent. If your child is grateful and he or she sincerely thanks you for
what you have done, you want to do more for him or her. On the other hand, if
your child is not grateful, and all he or she does is hound you for more,
you’re not apt to help that child very much.It’s similar with God the scripture teaches us that we should continually give God thanks; we should live with an attitude of gratitude.
You may say, “I’ve been through so many disappointments. I lost my business last year. My marriage didn’t work out. I’ve lost so much. How do you expect me to be grateful?”
But if it had not been for the goodness of God, You could have lost it all. If not for God’s mercy, you might not even be here today. Quit looking at what you have lost and start thanking God for what you have left.
My friend Freddie Lamb had a flat tire out on the freeway. As he was on the side of the road changing the tire, a drunk driver smashed his car into him. As a result of the incident, Freddie lost both of his legs beneath the knees.
Several days after the accident, my parents went to the hospital to visit Freddie, thinking that he would be distraught and upset over his loss. But not Freddie. He had a smile on his face and was full of joy. All he could talk about was how God had spared his life. In spite of the tragedy, he still had a grateful attitude. He rose of the bed and said, “Look, Pastor, what’s left of my legs can still give God praise.” Freddie wasn’t focused on what he didn’t have. He was thanking God for what he did have. He may have lost a lot, but he knew if it were not for the goodness of God, he could have lost it all. Today, Freddie Lamb has new artificial limbs, and everywhere he goes, he tells people what God has done for him. Make a decision today that you’re going to be like Freddie. No Matter what comes against you, you’re going to have a grateful attitude you’re going to find some reason to give God thanks. Perhaps you’ve lost your joy. You’ve lost your enthusiasm. You’ve lost your victory. You would get it back if you would start being more grateful. I heard about a man who was a very negative person. He constantly focused on what he had lost. One day, somebody told him to write down ten things he could be grateful for. He did that, and every morning he went over the list several times. Little by little, his attitude began to change. He got his joy back. He got his victory back. Today he’s a totally different person. When you’re tempted to become discouraged, recognize that the root cause can often
be traced to having an ungrateful attitude.
No matter what comes against you, if you’ll do as Freddie and Dorothy did, you can overcome in every situation. Granted, you may have suffered some losses, but thank God that you’re still here. You’re alive.
Make a decision that you’re going to be a grateful person. Find some reason to give God thanks. If you’ll do that, there’s no limit to what God will do in your life.
