“In every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 THESSALONIANS 5:18 AMP
Life is full of ups and downs, today you’re living a mountain top experience, fired up and so motivated and ready to take the world, everything happening as planned and it makes you feel like a genius. But tomorrow you’re down living a valley low experience, low morale, nothing seems to be working and it appears that all the odds are against you. It is therefore easy for us to develop an emotional rollercoaster. The key to victory and emotional, spiritual and physical well-being is an attitude of gratitude.
An attitude of gratitude becomes difficult to have, if not impossible when we’re focused on things that are not working at the moment and worried about things we presently don’t have. Don’t be like the Israelites who murmured and grumbled at every stage of their journey to the promise land.
They were so focused on what they didn’t have, such that they couldn’t see what they had and what was going on for them. They walked the desert for 40 years, their clothes were never torn, their shoes never worn, none was sick or feeble, the blistering desert sun did not scotch them nor the heat burn them, they ate angels’ food, but they couldn’t see all of these. Rather they chose to cry over garlic, cucumber and lack of tombs. How absurd you may say, but whatever we focus on gets magnified.
When you focus so much on the present challenges and circumstances, it shifts your attention from the things that are working and the good things going on for you. Murmuring and complaining is infectious, avoid the company of negative people. Surround yourself with optimistic people. Learn to rejoice in your downtimes, it gets the devil frustrated and disappointed while it delights God and provokes Him to act beyond your expectations.
In your trying times, thank God! In your good times, thank God! When it seems as if all hope is lost, thank God! You can never get it wrong thanking God.
In all circumstances, GIVE THANKS!!!
Recommended text for further reading:
I Corinthians 10:10; Philippians 4:4; Habakkuk 3: 17-18; Hebrews 13:15.
