Thanks-making

GIVING THANKS TO GOD for my life and the events of my days may come supernaturally to me now, but it wasn’t always this way.

After I was released from the hospital, my sister invited me to come live with her on our Maryland farm. Still a teenager and new to my wheelchair, I wondered what my new life as a quadriplegic would be. Often, my sister parked me in my chair next to the big bay window that overlooked the pasture. Everything in me wanted to be on my feet, outside, walking into the barn, feeding the horses, and saddling up for a ride.

And yes, at that moment I was feeling very sorry for myself.

But even in those days I knew that daydreaming and fantasizing about such things would only make my attitude worse. I’d had enough of dark depression when I was in the hospital and didn’t want to go down that grim path to despair again. So sitting there by the window, looking out at the morning sunlight on that Maryland pasture, I remember praying a prayer that went something like this:

“Jesus, my mind-set today is like a stubborn horse that doesn’t want to be saddled up and led out of the barn. My attitude is stiff-necked and obstinate—but I am not going to let it win this day. My spirit within me wants to do what’s right, so I’m putting spurs on my attitude today. I’m going to goad it out of the barn, into the light of day, and down a path of gratitude. My feelings don’t want to go there; I’d rather stay in my dark stall. But with Your help, I’m going to whip my feelings in the right direction. And as I do . . . please, Lord, give me a grateful attitude. Help me not only to do but also to feel the right thing.”

I wanted God to shed His light on a new path.

And He did.

Over time, God changed those feelings and gave me an attitude of genuine, heartfelt gratitude. Nothing or no one else could have changed me from the inside out like that. It had to be me in partnership with God’s powerful Holy Spirit.

Does thankfulness come easy to you today? Do you have an attitude that wants to hide in a dark stall in the back of the barn, or one that wills to ride in the morning sunlight on a fresh trail? It may be time to spur your emotions in the right direction. In 2 Corinthians 4:15, Paul wrote, “All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.” In other words, when you cultivate an attitude of gratitude, it causes others to be thankful. As a friend of mine often says, “We can actually become thanks-makers.”

And that sounds like a pretty good occupation to me.

GOING DEEPER . . .

I will sacrifice a thank offering to you

and call on the name of the LORD.

Psalm 116:17

Our constant sacrifice to God should be the praise of lips that give thanks to his name.

Hebrews 13:15, PH

Drawing on the power of the Holy Spirit, encourage your own heart to give thanks right now . . . inspiring and encouraging others in your life to do the same, all of it overflowing to the glory of God. This may be the most important thing you accomplish all day.