Show Your Gratitude
“Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord.” Ps 107:8 NKJV
The Psalmist writes, “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord, for his goodness.” Notice the word “would.” A thankful attitude is a choice you make regardless of the situation. You choose your attitude just like you choose the food you eat and the clothes you wear each day. And there’s plenty to be grateful for. You say, “Yeah, but there’s plenty to complain about too.” The point exactly—so you’ve a choice to make! Robinson Crusoe spent twenty-seven years shipwrecked on an island. Here’s part of his journal entry (paraphrased). Let’s call his lists the Gripe list and the Gratitude list. Gripe: “I’m stuck on this desert island without hope.” Gratitude: “I wasn’t drowned like the rest of my ship’s company.” Gripe: “I’ve no clothes.” Gratitude: “I’m in a hot climate, if I had clothes I couldn’t wear them.” Gripe: “I’ve no way to protect myself from man or beast.” Gratitude: “I see no wild beasts here to hurt me as I saw on the coast of Africa. What if I’d been shipwrecked there?” Gripe: “I’ve nobody to talk to.” Gratitude: “God sent the ship in near enough to the shore that I’ve gotten out so many necessary things as will enable me to supply myself as long as I live.” That’s powerful stuff! If you can grasp it and put it into practice, it’ll keep you from becoming a member of the Old Testament wilderness club known as “the murmurers.” Your attitude is simply the decision you make about how you’re going to approach things. It isn’t Disney-World thinking to focus on the good things of life, it’s wisdom!
February 8, 2013 | Permalink5 Responses to Show Your Gratitude
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A. Garcia says:
Wow ..this was timel!. Yesterday was a gripe day for me . Thank U for this devotional that I come to daily for my source of encouragement and re alignment of my thinking !
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Carmen Adele Mahon says:
This is Carmen again, sorry for the errors, I hit the post key before I had chance to re-read my comment. So I am resending it.
You are such an anointed Pastor. I have been watching you now for about 5′ months and I often share God’s Word to others and yesterday, God’s spirit touched me to widen insights to them on ‘Gratitude’ and ‘Forgiveness’, which is way I am connected to your ministry, because there is only one Holy Spirit and your ministry and I’ve always believed if God has something to tell u, to teach us, He will send places that gives us/me confirmation from my personal study time, which is a necessity for my walk and where I worship and fellowship. Thank You, Pastor Franklin!
I live in Chicago, IL., and my name is Carmen Mahon
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ASB says:
I was in a car accident last July. I was left with three ruptured discs in my neck, two were pressing on my spinal cord. I have been in intense, indescribable pain for the last 6 months. Now, I have a titanium plate and six screws holding my neck together. In this, I have found an abundance of gratitude. First, my children weren’t in the car with me. 2) No other cars were involved 3) I was not paralyzed. 4) I am alive. Yes, I’ve been in screaming, blinding pain. Yes, I will probably feel the effect of this for a lifetime. Yes, I have an ugly scar on the front of my neck. However, I’m grateful. My relationship with God has only been stronger and deeper since my accident. For this, I am grateful.
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Avaiu Sunia says:
I am grateful when I awake everyday.
This is exactly what I need to get me through the day. Thank you so much. I am tempted to gripe instead of being grateful.