Living with an "Attitude of Gratitude"

There are many reasons to love the season of Thanksgiving. Beyond the turkey, family get togethers, and pumpkin pie, Thanksgiving is all about counting our blessings and being thankful. As much as I appreciate a special season which helps us to focus on all that we are and should be thankful for, the truth is, as believers in Christ, we need to be living in a place of gratitude every day of the year!
Scripture is filled with reminders to live in thankfulness all of the time, not just during the the season of Thanksgiving. The Psalmist instructs us over and over to "Give thanks to the Lord". We are told in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Giving thanks isn't always our first response when we find ourselves in circumstances that are painful or difficult. It's easy to express our thanks to God when life is comfortable and things are going our way. But when we are facing trials of various kinds, it can be far more challenging to be thankful for the place that God has us in!
As believers, part of living in obedience to Christ means practicing thankfulness...every day! Colossians 2:6-7 tells us that living in Christ and overflowing thankfulness go hand in hand. "So then, just as you received Christ as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." Overflowing with gratitude is part of what it means to live with an "attitude of gratitude". It's not just being intentional about being thankful (although it sometimes begins there). It's coming to a place where thankfulness is as natural to us as breathing is. It's having thankfulness pour from our hearts and lips in all situations...even the ones we'd rather not have to face. When we operate out of such a place, we learn to live out the commands found in Ephesians 5:19-20: "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." What a beautiful way to live!
As we count our many blessings this season, let's ask God to help us be people who are "overflowing with thankfulness". Every moment of every day throughout the year, may thanksgiving be a way of life for us as we trust in the goodness and faithfulness of our great God!