“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Are we really to give thanks in ALL circumstances? Am I reading that correctly? This verse has really hit me hard over the last few weeks. I’m just gonna be straight up and say that ministry is tough. People are difficult. Everybody’s an expert and everybody’s a critic. And it really can wear on you after awhile. Because of this, I find myself in a funk every once in awhile, where I am constantly complaining and frustrated. Lately, I have been in such a funk. A few weeks ago I ran across this verse, which I have read hundreds of times, and yet it really hit me harder than it ever has. Am I living life with an attitude of thankfulness? Needless to say, an attitude check was needed.
So, for what it’s worth, here are a couple of things that God is teaching me presently -
- Gratitude is given: If I am truly grateful, my attitude should reflect it. I need to approach, not only God with an attitude of thankfulness, but also others. I have to quit assuming people know I am grateful for them. Because people matter to God, if I am to lead them well, they will matter to me. My attitude toward them should be a priority.
- Gratitude begins, where my sense of entitlement ends: Colossians 3:17 teaches us that “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” I often overlook the fact that God, in His mercy, has given me the privilege of serving Him and others. I have noticed that not only I, but many who are serving Jesus in ministry, need to be reminded of this. Even if not spoken, we sometimes feel entitled to our position, as if it is our gifts and abilities that sustain the blessing of God. As leaders, we should walk in utmost humility. We are servants of God and people. We do not deserve to be here. We are blessed just to have a relationship with Him and to be able to serve Him, but for whatever reason, our blessings seem to turn into burdens. An example of this is, when we first bought our house, we were so grateful. We would say things like, “look at where we get to live…look at the beautiful yard we have…look at the size of these rooms.” Somewhere along the line our attitude changed, and we began to say things like, “I hate it, but I’ve got to mow the yard…I’ve got to paint the walls…I’ve got to clean these rooms.” What used to be a blessing…sorry, what IS a blessing, we began to see as a burden. Remember that God, in His mercy, has blessed us to be able to serve Him and those around us.
- God desires an attitude of gratitude more than our sacrifice of service: Psalm 69:30-31 says,“I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. This will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs.” It really is about our attitude. Our attitude should drive our actions. God does not desire for us to see our service to Him as a burden. You ever notice how grateful people can seem to find and create blessing in almost any situation? Conversely, negative people can find or create a burden in almost any situation. You and I both dread dealing with people like that. However, many of us are blind to the fact that WE are often that person. We need to develop an attitude of thankfulness. Too often we complain about the very thing God has blessed us with.
My attitude is a reflection of God’s grace and mercy in my life. My guess is that many of us need an attitude adjustment. We need to learn to be thankful in all circumstances.
What are some ways that you can choose to be a reflection of God’s blessing this week and to be a blessing to those around you?
