“If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily.” (Quote by George Good)
Early Friday morning, I prepared some PowerPoint slides for Sunday’s sermon, slides that answer the question, “Where Does Change Begin?” Feeling like I had accomplished something according to my time management plan for the day, after finishing the slide I decided to reward myself and go pick up a breakfast sandwich and a cup of coffee. I could be wrong, but with me, the latter is a must have. No coffee, no talkie! Lord, forgive me again!
Nevertheless, as I drove to pick up my reward, it came to my attention that I had left one thing out of my sermon about a key element that comes close to the top of the list when explaining where change begins. I guess the Lord has the final word on when you have accomplished something. So, instead of going back and amending my PowerPoint presentation, but being obedient as the same time to the unction of the Spirit, I decided to share what I left out with you this Saturday morning. This will change your day, possibly even your life.
I left out “thankfulness!” Listen to these words, offered to you with love. If you start your day with thankfulness, a lot of things will change. Your perception of things will change! Your perspective on the level of your blessed state will change! Your position on a figurative chart of joy will change! Your point of view regarding your plight in life will change! Your persona will change; frowns will be turned upside down! Your personality will be different as witnessed by others! Your pessimism will be evicted, and optimism will move in! The picture in your head about being burdened will be taken out of your mental frame of mind and you will see your blessings! All that will happen if your start your day with thankfulness to the Lord! Try it!
Thank Him that you are still in the land of the living! Thank Him for letting you see another day! Thank Him for all that He has brought you through! Thank Him while it did not go the way you wanted it to go, it still worked out alright! Thank Him for sustaining you through all that stuff you had to endure, some of which you brought on yourself! Thank Him that you know your saved loved ones who have gone home to be with the Lord are in a better place! With the Lord is a better place! Thank Him in recognition that He still has a purpose for you! Thank Him that whatever enemy tried to overcome you, He gave you the strength to be an overcomer! Thank Him for helping you rid your mind of defeatism and remining you that you are a victor, more than a conqueror! Thank Him for the level of health you do have! Couldn’t it be worst! Thank Him for human help and for Him being a very present help in times of trouble!
Change your day from down to up, from dark to bright, from sad to happy, and from hopelessness to hope merely by sitting down and giving thanks to the Lord. Thankfulness will change you! Yes, you will find out that it is true from a personal perspective, “I just can’t thank Him enough!” You are probably rejoicing right now, but pause and read further.
There is one more thing I have to say, since it is Saturday! Let your thankfulness flow over into tomorrow, Sunday morning and may it cause you to rise up with enthusiasm and enter the Lord’s house just as the Psalmist says in the closing verse! Be blessed!
“Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courtyards with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.” (Psalm 100:4 NASB)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King