A Spirit of Thanksgiving (Part 5 or 5)

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. ~Colossians 3:15-20 (ESV)

I have sat at many Thanksgiving dinners. I have held the kernel of corn and have announced to everyone at the table what I was thankful for that year. And every year, I say the same things: my family, my home, my health, my Savior. They are all wonderful things, of course, but they are the easy answer. It is easy for me to be thankful for a husband who loves me, my beautiful children, a spacious home in California.

But this year, something changed me. At a thanksgiving prayer service a few weeks back, I was asked a question:

"What is hindering you from giving thanks?"

My initial reaction was, "Nothing! I am SO thankful! I'm thankful for everything in my life!"

Then I studied the seven words posted on the wall, seven things that could be keeping me from being truly grateful. It took me a few minutes to be honest with myself. Entitlement, doubt, anger? Nope, nope, nope. I'm good. Bitterness, fear? Nope, nope. I'm good there too. Covetousness? Nope. Anxiety? Nope... wait… hmmm… well… hmmm… maybe…

I finally admitted that I did have some bitterness towards some family members. I did have anxiety concerning homeschooling and my image in the church. I did covet when I visited other people's homes or heard about other people's travels. And as long as I held onto these things, I could not be grateful for those family members, for homeschooling, for my role in the church, for my home, or for God's purpose for me at this time of life.

After prayer and repentance, I relinquished my bitterness, anxiety, and covetousness to God. And for the first time in years, I was able to say that I was thankful for the harder things in my life.

What is hindering you from giving thanks? Is it…

            ENTITLEMENT

                        BITTERNESS         

                                ANGER

                        FEAR

               DOUBT

                      COVETOUSNESS    

                         ANXIETY

May this be the year you trade these in for something better!

Wherever you are this Thanksgiving, may God give you a joyful, grateful day. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it in the name of Jesus, giving thanks to the Father.