Attitude of Gratitude in Times of Struggle

Unlike the other days, today’s subject did not come readily. I prayed on the way into work but did not feel confirmation for the thought for today. I decided to walk away from my desk and go to another floor. This was something I normally would not do at this time. Upon returning to my floor, I felt the need to get a cup of water. The cups had all been used, so I went to find more cups and placed them at the water cooler. Low and behold, one of the managers came to get some water, with his cup. I said to him that he looked so happy. He said, “Why wouldn’t he be? We have a great job?” I just looked at him. He went on to say, “There are over 7 Billion people in the world. Do you have any idea as to how many people in the world would love to have what we have? When I become unthankful, he said. I think that maybe I should move out of my life and let someone else have it!” Wow, I said! I need to have an Attitude of Gratitude! I thanked him and let him know that he held the answer to my prayer that morning! Thank You Holy Spirit!

MOTIVATION LOW! GET AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

In my research for today, I came across a website where someone has dedicated it to just that, “Thankfulness!” It is called “I Am Thankful, Expressing Gratitude” http://www.iamthankful.com/home. Being thankful enables you to look beyond the wrongs done to you. Sometimes it is just being thankful that you have sense enough to resist the temptation of retaliation.

I learned a while ago, when you are in the Face of the Almighty, the winds of adversity will assail you beyond belief. It has caused many to back up and renege on promises made to the One who loves us most. Sometimes just dealing with “life” is enough and then to be in spiritual warfare can become overwhelming.

You will find the carnage of once overcoming Christians in the Valley! They await rescue and encouragement. However, this is when all that He has invested in you will become tools to overcoming. He is the joy of our strength and our guide to get there is an Attitude of Gratitude. Yes Lord, I know the bills are due, children have gone awry, and the job is not secure but because you live, I can face tomorrow! Because you said that, you will never leave me, nor forsake me I am thankful that I can rest in your Word. For you, Almighty God cannot lie!

What we focus on that becomes larger than life. What we magnify will fill up our vision! When we walk in Gratitude our thankfulness explodes like rays of light that wraps us with hope and peace.

An Attitude of Gratitude brings you into His presence through praise! In addition, in His presence there is fullness of joy! You can then realize that you were given a day that someone else will never see! What often brings me to that place is that I remind myself that my boys never spent a day in the hospital, or had to go under the knife! No plague has come nigh my dwelling! My cup begins to run over when I think about His goodness and ALL that he has already done!

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,

David, at one time in his life, had to encourage himself in the Lord! I am an encourager and there are many times when I need to be encouraged and there is not ONE person to be found!

"And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God." 1 Samuel 30:6 - NIV

"So David chose encouragement, not only to be encouraged—for there was no one around him who could, or would, do that for him—but to encourage himself. The most important thing to notice here, though, is that David did not encourage himself in himself. Rather, the Scripture says that he encouraged himself in the LORD his God .

Second, discouragement is an indication that we are walking by sight, not by faith. Paul said, “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5.7), and that was the source of his stability and strength. When we walk by faith, with our confidence in the Lord and his promises, it is impossible to be discouraged. But when we walk by sight, trusting in our senses, our feelings and our own understanding, we easily fall prey to all the deceptions of the world, the flesh and the devil. When we find ourselves in discouragement, we discover where we have been placing our trust. The solution is to put our trust back in the Lord."-Jeff Doles

He has given us tools to defeat the blues, worry, and depression, Gratitude! You may not feel like praying, singing a song, or even watching a gospel program. Just start writing down the times that you did not see your way clear, but God!

Developing an Attitude of Gratitude will build such a silent fortress for you to retrieve to when the journey becomes overwhelming. It is the changing of position from helplessness to security in knowing that all things are working for your good! Staying in a place of Gratitude will enable you to work the fruits of the spirit, the gifts of the spirit, and the love that covers a multitude of sin!