Grateful

November 22, 2016 - By Aaqila Ward

It’s one of my favorite times of the year: Thanksgiving! I love it because we have a bunch of family and friends over for Thanksgiving day and the day after and get lost in the fellowship. As a nation, this time is reserved for everyone to take a second and reflect on the things that we are thankful for.

Wow…a whole day!

The other 364 days, we typically spend complaining. We complain about our jobs. We complain about our finances. We complain about our living arrangements. We complain about our spouses. We complain about our children. We complain because life is not turning out how we thought it would.

We bring all these complaints to God constantly. You know that annoying friend you have that you tolerate because of your history, but all they do is complain and speak negatively? Yeah, I imagine that’s what we sound like to God.

God, when is this trial going to be over? Why do I have to suffer? Why did you bring me here?

…Guilty!

Many of you know that this past summer, I went on a mission trip to Kenya. It was incredible! My first time going to Africa and most of the time, I was speechless. I went with the non-profit, New Beginnings Orphanages International. NBOI sponsors orphanages and schools in Kenya and we were able to visit the various places during our stay. To see the joy that filled the atmosphere was unreal. Seeing people, children in conditions that Americans would classify as “less than” made me realize that I have a lot to be grateful for.

That’s what we as believers must do every single day. We must realize what we have to be grateful for. When we fail to think about the grace and mercy of God, we grumble. We start thinking and speaking like an entitled Christian that deserves the superficial things we complain about. Whining only shifts our focus away from God onto our current circumstances or ourselves. We can’t wait until Thanksgiving to reflect on God’s goodness. He’s been too good for us not to share that with others instead of the negativity.

The Bible tells us this in Phillipians 2: 14-16: “Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.”

Instead, we can use our words to give thanks to God. If you cannot think of something to give thanks for, thank God simply because He is God and He deserves it. He is good.

Psalm 136:1 ESV
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Hebrews 12:28 ESV
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.

Philippians 4:6-8 ESV
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Take a second to reflect. What are some things that you are grateful for?