in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
It is hard to be thankful when all odds are against you, but the truth is every season comes with its set of challenges.
As believers and followers of Christ, we need to be thankful not because things are working for us, but because thankfulness is an attitude of the heart.
That means being thankful is a choice, not a feeling.
You can try to cultivate thankfulness according to what world experts say, but there is no assurance that it will work.
It is better to use something substantial that cannot change, and that is the word of God.
Here is how you can cultivate a thankful heart biblically;
Focus On God And The Positive Things In Life
There is always something more significant in life that we should always be grateful for.
Stop focusing on that one thing that is making things hard for you and start looking at the blessings that you have.
Even if all things don’t look great right now, and you feel there is nothing to be grateful for, focus on Jesus and what he has done for you.
Paul focused on the bigger picture and not the prison cell that he was in, and that is why he was able to tell us to rejoice always.
He knew that what awaited him in heaven was more significant than the problems he was facing.
If you want to have a thankful heart, look up to God. He has your best interests at heart.
Jesus always focused on his father and not men, and that is why when people accused him of having a demon or tried to stone him, he wasn’t shaken. He found his fulfillment in God, not man.
That is why we don’t see him whining and complaining about life and the kind of treatment got.
Journal All The Great Things God Has Done For You
The reason we know about God and his love for humanity is that he inspired people to write the Bible.
Journaling is a great habit and something that we can use to cultivate a thankful heart.
If God encouraged people to write down what he said then wouldn’t it be great if we always write what he has done and is still doing in our lives?
When we want to whine and complain about the hardships we are going through, we can turn to our journals and see the great things that God has done for us and those he has promised to do.
Doing this will help us to cultivate thankful hearts.
Make Thanksgiving Part Of Your Devotional Time
You can choose to spend part of your devotional time thanking God. Remember, we become what we practice consistently.
We should not thank God when we feel like it; we should do it even when we don’t feel like it.
Start blessing the Lord for what he has done and is doing in your life.
A thankful heart is something we cultivate. It is not a gift given to some special people.
When you sit down and reflect on what God has done and how much he has promised to do in your life, you will not get sidetracked by the trials and temptations that you are going through.
Always be thankful to God, and you will live a joyful life.
