Be Thankful

Be thankful!

​This message is intended to put a thought of appreciation, gratitude and thanksgiving in our spirits.

Thankfulness is right from the heart and we owe it unto God and people around us. 

According to the Word of God in Matthew 12:34b, gratitude including other thoughts comes right from the heart. This mean that if your heart is not grateful for the lows and highs, your mouth will not praise God.

Meanwhile our right attitude should be offering praises unto God irrespective of the passing moment of life, which could be trials or testimonies.

For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Matthew 12:34b

Habakkuk 3:17 -18 says
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

As written in Habakkuk 3, we ought to rejoice in the Lord no matter the matter. Learn to praise God for your present challenges because it’s building you for the crown ahead.

It is impertinent or rude not to appreciate God for even the gift of life. The truth is life is not by right but by His Grace. So, be thankful for that gift of life. So many righteous, God-fearing people including sinners do not have that privilege. So, be thankful for yours.

More so, it is recommended to allow our knowledge of God as a good gracious Father to overshadow our present difficulties or successes.  Life is basically full of ups and downs, but our God is faithful to see us through life. 

Every glory has a story. Therefore, while you are passing through your story phase, be thankful for the glory ahead.

---

Factors That Makes Us Ungrateful To God
These are few out of many factors that makes us behave ungrateful to God

Factor 1: 
​I deserve It Mentality'
Everything we have in life is a privilege and by God's grace. Some people do more and they get less or even nothing. So, be grateful and thankful to one another and mostly unto God. 
A humble heart is a thankful heart. Be a thankful heart.

Luke 18: 10 – 14
​10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Factor 2: Comparison ​
A competing life will find it too difficult to appreciate and be thankful for even the small milestones. Do not be like that!

There is no wisdom is comparing yourself with someone else, not even your spouse, siblings or friends.

In fact, comparison is foolishness because everyone is running their own race.

We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.  2 Corinthians 10:12 ​

Factor 3: 'God must do it' mindset
Some believers out of context misunderstand grace for right. They believe God must do all things for them. Yes, our God is gracious to help us but He owes us nothing. We receive from God by mercy and not by rights. 

Luke 17: 14 - 18 
​14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”

Factor 4: Agenda outside God 
When we are run our own agenda either without approval from God or not committed to God, then we are at the risk of running headlong which will ultimately lead to frustration and not being thankful. 

Do you want to be thankful unto God? Keep your plans in touch with God whose plan is the best. 

The Almighty God has a plan for us and let us allow His plan to prevail in our life. 

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29: 11

Factor 5: No recall system 
Reflecting on the past is a way to remember the faithfulness of God and be thankful in life. 

Lamentations 3:21 
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 

Like the popular song says:
When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
 
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
    And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Watch it here

Message starts at 42:00