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Not everyone will have a happy Thanksgiving…especially this year. Many are out of work, have issues relating to health, children and family. Some are mourning a loved one, others are facing the holiday season as a divorcee for the first time. What happens to thanksgiving and praise when peace disintegrates into chaos?
I’ve been through a lot. So, what happens to my praise and thanksgiving when my day is darkened with a multitude of problems? Do I still sing to Him anyway? You bet! When my eyes spill over with the tears of heartache, do I still look to Him and praise Him? Absolutely! When chaos invades my world, do I still claim His peace and praise Him? Yes! For “I will praise the Lord no matter what happens. I will constantly speak of His glories and grace.” (Ps. 34:1 TLB)
I have learned to transform my attitude into one of gratitude as Habakkuk did. In the closing words of his book, the prophet asserted his faith in God and promised to praise Him, even if all else failed. “Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation.” (Hab. 3:17-18 NLT)
Paul’s statement is now mine, “I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of contentment in every situation, whether it be a full stomach or hunger, plenty or want.” (Phil. 4:12 TLB) This statement has taken up residence in my heart, “No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1 Thess. 5:18 TLB)
Are life’s fiery darts aimed at your life, attempting to puncture your heart? What seeps out of your heart? Whatever is going on in your life, there is always room for thanksgiving! It is the sacrificial gift of your heart. So what does it cost you?
A true, sacrificial gift may costs you the surrender of your money, if you give sacrificially, as the widow who gave her two mites. It can cost you the surrender of your time, as you sacrifice to put God first. It costs you the surrender of your heart, for you sacrifice your love to those who hate you. It costs you the surrender of your lips, for you sacrifice your praise to God when all seems lost.
Though you may be going through some really rotten things right now, praise the Lord anyway. Praise and thanksgiving may not change your surroundings but it will change your attitude.
Thanksgiving is not a once-a-year holiday. Thanksgiving is an eternal season of the heart, an overflow of the heart’s gratitude for all that God has done and is going to do and for everything one possesses, no matter how much or how little that may be.
Will you have Habakkuk’s attitude this Thanksgiving season? Don’t let Thanksgiving get stuck in your throat! May the Lord touch you in a special way this Thanksgiving. May it become an eternal season in your heart.
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Very good article BUT, easier said than done!
I have been going through some very challenging times right now BUT have been giving thanks to God regardless of the situations taking place. This is the first year that I am seperated from my daughters and grandson this Holiday season (they in CT and I in Fl) but I soooo much appreciate the times that I am able to spend with them when we are able to visit with one another. It does not have to be a “special” time of year to gather with our loved ones we need to be grateful for the time that God grants us. Thank you Lord for opening my heart to thanking you daily and not just at Thanksgiving time. Barbara
I was looking at Psalm 46 today. It reminds us that no matter what is happening around us, we can remain calm, because God is always there to uphold us.
A lot of challenges have happened to me, my family and have lost beloved family members this year, but i find solace in Habakkuk 3:17-18. We really need to understand that if we trust in HIM, he will put everything under his control. Nevetheless to say,during the year i have seen God’s favours in many areas, work, family etc. I therefore urge my fellow christians that despite facing challenges in life, just count your blessings, God had given you.
Gratitude is the highest form of praise to our Lord! Remember that thought …it is most motivating!
Stan, thank you so much for taking time to read this. I appreciate it. And you’re right, sometimes it is very difficult. I learned to praise the Lord even through gritted teeth because it changes my heart. Blessings to you! :D
Wezzie, I am so sorry for your loss of loved ones. Trust is the key word, isn’t it? Gratitude and thankfulness engender further gratitude and thankfulness. We just need to start. Blessings of peace and comfort to you! :D
Amen, Marty, amen! You are so right! Thank you! :D
this year has been the hardest yet.jan my husband lost his business. then we had to relocate in june. giving up our home. then my father commmitting suicide in oct. my son in law got deployed to afghanistan 4 days later.i feel like i never had a chance to catch my breath befor something else happend.im seeing a counsler at my church bt need people to talk to. my husband works long hours 7am-10pm i read i pray and most of the day im ok till around 5:00 then the walls start to close in i need friends christian chat rooms anything id take a internet pin pal at this point lol
Dear Paula, I am so glad that you decided to leave a comment. This is a wonderful site to get connected with a mentor…I had been going through some real tough times a few years ago and a kind hearted mentor from this sight helped me along the way. I would love to keep in contact with you but don’t know how to get my email address to you since they do not allow us to post them here. I understand what you are going through in loosing your father to suicide…I too lost my dad to suicide in the month of OCTOBER too…you are very wise to seek out counsel at church…this route has helped me out as well….keep with it and don’t let anything get in the way of you recieving the blessed help that you need at this time in your life. The enemy will come up against you for he does not want to see God’s children healed and set free from their hurts and sorrow…just remind yourself that GOD loves you no matter what you are going through and if that is the only promise you hang onto at this time claim it daily…HE is with you and is mightier that anything else that is coming against you! We all need other people in our lives to help and encourage us along when we sense that the bottom is being pulled out from us….if your church offers small groups I encourage you to get connected into one of them…aks your church if they have a mentor that you can link up with as well. I will be praying that God brings you the proper help that you need at this time.
Hi Barbara
Are you a mentor for our site? If so we can get you and Paula connected through our system and you can talk. If you would like to become a mentor, just read the intro and then click on the highlighted word “Apply” and fill out the Application. Here is the link: http://truthmedia.com/engage/volunteer/mentorintro.
Also, Paula I would encourage you to contact one of our mentors to get help. Here is the link to request a mentor
http://powertochange.com/experience/talk-to-a-mentor/
What a timeless article, Lynn! It will never grow old even when the holidays are long past.
Thank you for the wonderful verses today to remind us to choose to cultivate thanksgiving in our hearts.
Today I will let Psalm 34:1 steep into my heart as tea steeps in a pot – so it can permeate my whole outlook today.
“His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” What a great reminder!!
God bless you, Lynn, as you have blessed us today!
Warmly,
Gail
Wow! God is soooo good! The timing of this article is perfect….just as God is perfect in His timing in all things. After reading the older comments left a year ago regarding this article I am soooo blessed to have seen, experience, and live out that which I was hoping for. My comment on this site a year ago has taken a 180 degree turn since then in the right direction…God opened triple windows of opportunity for me to see my beloved ones this past year and a trip to see them in a few weeks as well, He opened up mulitply other doors of opportunity too. I believe all theses blessings took place because of a very thankful heart to HIM regardless of my heartache last year. At times, such as this, HE amazes me…exspecially when I had just told my husband less than an hour ago how happy and grateful I am at this time before even stumbling across this email sitting in my e-mailbox waiting to be opened. Thank you LORD for all that you have done, Thank you GOD for all that you will do, Thank you Holy Spirit for changing me from the inside out…to God be all the GLORY all days not just at Thanksgiving time….
Barbara, thanks so much for sharing the ‘rest of the story’ as it were! So neat to hear all that God has done and continues to do. Much to be thankful for indeed!
For some reason, the new comments just now showed up for me. I couldn’t respond until now. Thank you so much, Gail, for leaving me a comment. I’m so happy to see you. Makes my heart so happy. Blessings to you!
Barbara, I am thrilled to have you come back and leave an update. I am so happy for you. Praise the Lord! / May you have a wonderfully blessed Thanksgiving!
I am blessed by all your comments. This article and Barbara’s testimony reminded me of a couple scriptures:
1)Psalm 28:7
New King James
The LORD is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart greatly rejoices,
And with my song I will praise Him.
The Message (v. 6-7)
Blessed be God— he heard me praying.
He proved he’s on my side;
I’ve thrown my lot in with him.
Now I’m jumping for joy,
and shouting and singing my thanks to him.
2) And Psalm 13
New King James:
1 How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?
2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart daily?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
5 But I have trusted in Your mercy;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD,
Because He has dealt bountifully with me.
The Message:
1-2 Long enough, God— you’ve ignored me long enough.
I’ve looked at the back of your head
long enough. Long enough
I’ve carried this ton of trouble,
lived with a stomach full of pain.
Long enough my arrogant enemies
have looked down their noses at me.
3-4 Take a good look at me, God, my God;
I want to look life in the eye,
So no enemy can get the best of me
or laugh when I fall on my face.
5-6 I’ve thrown myself headlong into your arms—
I’m celebrating your rescue.
I’m singing at the top of my lungs,
I’m so full of answered prayers.
I for one have to admit that during times of trouble, when I feel disoriented, abandoned, hopeless or just plain exhausted and down, my emotions and my cry sound so similar to the Message’s version of Psalm 13.
Yet Christ who is in me tells me that God is still with me and that the murkiness will pass, so I must still praise God with all that I am, from the place of my distress.
I am so thankful that we are here to encourage one another and remind each other that the troubled times do have an end, and if we can witness breakthroughs happen in the lives of others, we are just as capable of persisting in our faith until we witness breakthroughs happen in our own lives.
Thanks again for sharing everyone! :)
Rasheil, thank you so much for your comment and the scriptures. You’re right. It is great to be able to share and encourage one another. Blessings to you!
What can I do, but add to the praise that has been expressed. Rasheil said it so well! Thank you to the others also.
To pick up what Lynn was saying about the prophet Habakkuk: In the midst of God’s judgment he chose to praise God (Habakkuk 3:17-18). That is the kind of faith which God is looking for in mankind. We need to be thankful “no matter what”.
For thankfulness (as Lynn put it) “—to become an eternal season in your heart.” one needs to live by the power of the Spirit. Martin Luther took his stance during the Religious Reformation from Habakkuk 2:4b when he declared “—but the righteous will live by his faith— “ NIV. The Holy Spirit gives us that faith, which is “the joy of our salvation” and the constant expression of our thankfulness to God in whom we trust at all times.
May we be inspired this Thanksgiving, to “be thankful all year long”.