HomeWord - Jan. 7, 2008

An Attitude of Thankfulness 
This devotional was written by Jim Burns

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

There is always reason to be thankful. Notice that today's Scripture doesn't say to be thankful for all things but to be thankful in all things. Even in the most difficult of circumstances you can find reason for a thankful heart. I like the phrase that says, "I complained because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet." No matter what your circumstances, I believe there is a reason to be thankful in your circumstance. Your situation may never change, but your attitude can change, and that will make all the difference in the world.

Terry Foxe was a Canadian distance runner who started a run from one side of Canada to the other. He ran at least 26 miles a day raising money for cancer research. He was a cancer victim himself. He ran every mile on one leg, since his right leg had been amputated well above the knee. Almost every day a television announcer or radio newscaster would put a microphone in front of Terry and ask him how his run for cancer was doing. Often exhausted and losing valuable strength, Terry would say, "I don't know about tomorrow, but God gave me another day to live, and I'm thankful for each day I'm alive." Terry didn't finish his run across Canada because he died of the dreaded disease he was raising money for. Yet even to the end he remained thankful for each day and considered each day God's gift to him. With an attitude of thankfulness he made the most of a difficult situation.

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GOING DEEPER:

1. What is the difference between being thankful for all circumstances and thankful in all circumstances as is prescribed in 1 Thessalonians 5:18?

2. What are your circumstances right now? Is it time for you to begin developing a greater attitude of thankfulness in you life?

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 136:1, 1 Chronicles 16:8

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