Thank & Think

2 Kings 4:^2-4 “…How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.” Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbours for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. …Pour oil into all the jars…” (NIV)

The third practical step to take to find courage for gratitude that Paul shows us in Philippians 4 is, THANK GOD IN ALL THINGS! The key is, you look not at what you have lost, but instead, you look at what you have left. And it is because your destiny is not tied to what you have lost. Your destiny is tied to what you have left. What do you have left in the house? Your destiny is tied to what you have left. Ask the widow in 2 Kings 4. What you have lost is not a part of your future. The truth is that you lost it because it is not a part of your future. What you have left is what God will create your future from. And God is saying you need to be grateful. For you to be grateful, stop counting what you have lost. Begin to count what you have left.

Genesis 13:^14-15 “After Lot had gone, the Lord said to Abram, “Look as far as you can see in every direction—north and south, east and west. I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants as a permanent possession.” Begin to see from what you have left what God will bring about, the great future God will bring into your life. Do I get an Amen? The way to express thanks is by giving. That is why it is called thanksgiving. The most giving people are usually the most thankful people. And the most thankful people are the most joyful people. So, the key here is, that there is always something to be thankful for. And the more thankful you are, the more blessed you become, the more joyful you become. So, take your eyes off the things that are not working, keep your eyes on the things that are working. Keep your eyes on the blessings that are in your life, and God will fill your life with even much more than you can ever think, or imagine in the Mighty Name of Jesus.

#4. THINK ABOUT THE RIGHT THINGS. And this is Paul’s fourth lesson for us on practical steps to take to find courage for gratitude. Philippians 4:⁸ “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, …noble, …right, …pure, …lovely, …admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (NIV, emphasis added). This is so powerful because if you do this, your life will be so peaceful and blessed. Depression and anxiety will be far away from you. What the Word of God is saying to you is, it is the way you think that determines the way you feel. And the way you feel determines the way you act. For emotional people who need to get a grip on their lives, if they get a grip of this scripture, boom! Problem solved!

Prayer: Father, I ask for the grace to fix my gaze on what is left not what is gone, and the grace to fix my thoughts on that which is true, lovely, and praiseworthy, in Jesus Mighty Name. Amen!