Shaking It Off and Moving On

Thankfulness will get you everywhere.  It's the ticket to breaking through depression, grief, anger, resentments and many other emotions and mindsets that can hold us back and stagnate us.  I'm not saying that we don't have to work through situations that cause those emotions, but we don't have to stay paralyzed by our circumstances.

Col 3:15,16  - "And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.  Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom He gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts."
Col 4:2  - "Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart."
1Th 5:18 - " Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."
Heb 12:28  - "Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping Him with holy fear and awe."

We have a choice in how we think, which of course means we daily choose our attitude, our outlook, and ultimately, our future.  Now I'm not one for a bunch of "psycho-babble" but facts are facts and it is a fact that what we think is who we become.  Thoughts that we take in become our belief system; our belief system then determines who we become.  For some there are temporary setbacks as we have chosen to believe less of ourselves than God's word says we are.  Other times we see long term damage and consequences suffered by self and loved ones as choices in thought patterns change attitudes and behaviors.

I don't have a big essay or sermon here, just a reminder that, since we are choosing to change our mindsets,  determining to believe all that God has made us to be and longing to to see and fulfill his purposes, thankfulness is the perfect place to start in worshiping him and breaking through to that next step he has for us.  It's not to early and it's not to late.  Thanking him is a tried and true way to start the day in worship...and we know what worship does!  Go for it!  Worship him!  Thank him!  Shake off those chains of doubt and diminished dreams and BLAST into his presence with thanksgiving!  There, in his presence, you will see what you need to see, hear what you need to hear, get everything necessary to do what you need to do.

Copyright Cynthia R. Jacobs March 22, 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED