“Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High.” (Psalm 50:14 NLT)
I grew up watching Kermit the Frog on television and I remember him singing “It ain’t easy being green.” I think the same sentiment might be sung of gratitude. It ain’t easy being grateful.
The Word reminds us that gratitude is a sacrifice; some sort of slaughter is involved. Often the thing that dies when we are thankful is our bad attitude. Gratitude is choosing to see the best to believe the best, and to let go of the rest. Thanks is a sacrifice when we are suffering, when it’s not fair and when it’s not quite right. Amazingly though, thanks is also a life preserver; bouying our hearts and minds – floating us through deepest water.
Thanksgiving is a choice. It’s rarely easy and it’s always our best option. The psalmist writes that thanksgiving gets God’s attention, thankful hearts call on Him and He comes to our rescue. (Psalm 50:15) Gratitude honors God, the Giver of all good gifts and the Redeemer of everything broken. Life is short and more than a little uncomfortable, but we can choose to offer the sacrifice of gratitude in every situation.
“But giving thanks is a sacrifice that honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.” (Psalm 50:23 NLT)
Lord, today we are grateful for the strong mechanism of thanksgiving. It catapults us out of any circumstance and into Your presence. Help us as we learn to give thanks in all conditions. May we search for Your gifts and find them, giving You glory upon each and every discovery. Amen.