Thanks

So often we struggle with how things are not working rather than focusing on what God is doing. To live beyond our struggles requires intentional . . .   thanksgiving . . . even if it is for seemingly unimportant and small details.  Our perception of life changes as we give thanks. Gratefulness is a powerful part of living as a courageous follower of Christ.

The people of God did not see what God gave them or where they had brought them.
They saw lack.
They saw disappointment.
They saw pain.
Moses did not know how to lead the complaining people:

    Moses cried out in prayer to God, "What can I do with these people? Any minute now they'll kill me!" (Exodus 17:4, The Message)

The power of a complaint stopped Moses.  He called out to God, desperate to be rescued from the complaining people.  Gratefulness had been lost.  They succumbed to the pain of their circumstances.  Moses needed a word that brought him to a place of personal gratefulness.  The thing is . . . he had the responsibility.  . . .  to lead with thanksgiving.

Jesus demonstrated the power of gratefulness, even the night before He went to the cross. Jesus  took bread, gave thanks, and broke it.  The act symbolized Himself, the Bread of Life, broken for all of humanity: Then, he took the cup and gave thanks . . . saying it was his blood of the covenant . . . poured out for the forgiveness of sin:

     While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”Then he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.  This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus gave thanks for the pain that was before Him for God so loved the world and gave His Son that all might have life.(Matthew 26: 26-28, TNIV).

Jesus gave thanks for the bread and the cup.
Simple.
Small things.
Powerful.
For God so loved the world and sent His Son to bring salvation which means  healing, wholeness, restoration, deliverance, and recovery.


Stop.
Refuse to complain.
Look beyond your pain of a circumstance.
Lead those around you in gratefulness.
Give thanks for the smallest of details.
Remember that gratefulness allows us to see more.

Learning to KickStart the day with thanksgiving . . . for every detail . . . for God so loves the world,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)